JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams review June 28, 2008

Remorseless East Bierley extend their unbeaten record

Posted: June 28

East Bierley extended their unbeaten run this season to 13 league games as they took another convincing step towards retaining the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One title.

Opening bowlers Chris Brook (5-27) and Dan Abbott (4-14) skittled out Woodlands for just 64 and then opener Steve Simpson blasted an unbeaten 50 which contained a six and seven fours to secure a ten-wicket win.

Second -placed Esholt refuse to be deterred by East Bierley's relentless pursuit of the title. They defeated Hanging Heaton by 111 runs with Chris Dawson taking six for 23 as Hanging Heaton were dismissed for 64. Masaver Massidique (42) and Dave Dawson (33) had earlier guided Esholt to a score of 175 all out. Andrew Nettleton was the pick of the bowlers with five for 43.

Cleckheaton picked up a maximum 20 points as they thrashed Pudsey Congs by 190 runs. Teenage opener Marcus Walmsley continued his fine form by making 103 and he shared in an opening stand of 181 with Rhys Jowett (76). A total of 259-7 soon proved to be way beyond Congs as they were dismissed for 69 with Edward Walmsley taking four for 15.

Spen Victoria hauled themselves off the bottom of the table with a surprise eight-wicket win over fourth-placed Keighley. Matthew Speck hit an unbeaten 95 and shared in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 145 with Amar Hussein (36no) as Spen passed the Keighley total of 179-9 with 8.2 overs to spare. Keighley's top scorers were Ashley Robinson (49no) and Alan Broadley (45) while John Ireland (3-54) was the pick of the Spen bowlers.

Yeadon's Jon Carey hit five sixes and six fours as he made 110 in their 81-run win over Baildon. Thanks to Carey, Yeadon posted a score of 219-8 despite Joe Lonsdale taking five for 33 for Baildon. Opening bowler Richard Wood (5-38) joined forces with Carey (3-35) to dismiss Baildon for 138.

Bowling Old Lane slipped to the bottom of the table after losing by 75 runs to Farsley. Christian Horner produced a devastating spell of seven for 20 as Old Lane were dismissed for 61 in reply to a Farsley score of 136 in which Joe Greaves made 45. Qayum Khan was the best Old lane bowler with five for 24.

Lightcliffe were another lowly side to secure a valuable win. They beat Pudsey St Lawrence by 18 runs with Tom Powe taking four for 24 and Amir Yaqub (3-20) as the visitors were dismissed for 171 despite being given a bright start by James Milligan (54) and Nial Colman (35). Lightcliffe's innings of 189-9 followed a similar patter. Openers Steve Hartley 941) and Rob Crookes (33) top scored while teenagers Chris Sharkey (4-52) and Adam Hopkins (3-34) were the pick of the St Lawrence bowlers.

A surprise three-wicket defeat for leaders Undercliffe against Saltaire enabled Bradford & Bingley to take over at the top. Usman Arshad took five for 28 as Undercliffe were dismissed for 142 with veteran Andy Wilsden top scoring with 56. Saltaire eased home in the extra over they were given with Adam Butt making 33.

Bradford & Bingley recovered from the disappointment of being dismissed for 113 to beat Bankfoot by 76 runs. Waj Ali took six for two and Richard Slater (4-12 as Bankfoot were skittled out for 36.

Fourth-placed Morley returned to winning ways with a three-wicket win over third-placed Manningham Mills. The father and son opening pair of Dave Goodlad (80) and son Gavin (38) shared a partnership of 109 which gave Morley the perfect platform from which to overhaul Manningham Mills' score of 178-8. Mohammad Faisal (83) was the main contributor for Mills while slow bowler Andy Cutt took five for 45 for Motley.

Great Horton and Hartshead Moor fought out a tie. Both sides were dismissed for 203. Mohammad Akbar (68) and Yaser Abbas (59) batted well for Great Horton in the face of good bowling from Danny Barlow (4-26). For Hartshead Moor, opener Phil Gooder made 63.

Paul Wright took five for 25 as Idle restricted Brighouse to 110-9 in reply to their total of 188. Joel Metcalfe made 58 for Brighouse to follow up the six for 68 he took as Idle were bowled out for 188. Luke Heinemann (46) and Nick Hardaker (40) were Idle's top scorers.

Andy Gorrod was unbeaten on 49 as Gomersal secured an easy seven-wicket win over Windhill. Simon Halls (30) and Andrew Fearnsides (30no) were Gomersal's other main contributors.

Craig Woodhead (3-49) and Matthew Hirst (3-12) were the men who did most to dismiss Windhill for 119.