Petty cashes in as East Bierley snatch victory

Posted: May 27, 2008

Champions East Bierley scored a thrilling four-wicket win at lowly Cleckheaton to remain four points behind the JCT 600 Bradford League Second Teams Division One leaders Esholt.

James Petty blasted a rapid 77 not out, Thomas Owens (64) and Chris Brook (33no) as East Bierley edged past Cleckheaton's score of 245-9 with ten balls to spare.

Opener Chris Dobson (77), Andy Porritt (46) and Edward Walmsley (45) were responsible for setting East Bierley such a testing target in the face of good bowling from Richard Patrick (5-74).

Esholt, like East Bierley, made it six wins from six games as they beat Baildon by 99 runs. Dave Hester (63), Chris Hester (52) and David Dawson (32) - all former Bierley players - steered Esholt to a total of 205-9. Yasser Abbas then took six for 24 as Baildon were dismissed for 106.

Woodland's young opener Cieran Garner made a sparkling 164 not out - an innings which was punctuated with four sixes and 20 fours - as they beat Lightcliffe by 119 runs.. Thanks to Garner, Woodlands made 299-4 with Adam Wood (37) and Tom Smallwood (35) chipping in with useful runs. Lightcliffe made 180-7 in reply with Gareth Stevens making 55. Wood completed a good all-round display by taking three for 14.

Newly-promoted Spen Victoria defeated Farsley by ten wickets to record their second win of the weekend. Derek Warriner (79no) hit his third half century of the season as he shared an unbroken opening partnership of 161 with old warhouse Mark Richardson (60no). Earlier, Faisal Rajput had taken four for 31 as Farsley were dismissed for 160 despite 57 from skipper Nigel Thornton.

Pete Byrne took five for 50 and Adeel Hafeez (3-43) as Hanging Heaton defeated Yeadon by 40 runs. Yeadon were dismissed for 189 as they replied to a Hanging Heaton score of 228-9 which included good contributions from Francis Nelson (48), Ben Gilbert (48), and Rob Smith (42). Nick Darfield took five for 61 for Yeadon.

Third-placed Keighley had a thrilling four-run win over Bowling Old Lane. Alex Towler (5-55) and Scott Hartley (4-24) sealed their success by bowling out Old Lane for 179. Keighley had made 183 all out with Paul Wilkinson hitting 55.

Skipper Michael Oldfield took five for 27 as Pudsey Congs defeated Pudsey St Lawrence by six wickets. Saints, despite 59 from Lee Mortimer, were dismissed for 135. Congs breezed to their target with Callum Oliver striking an unbeaten 57.

There are new joint leaders in Division Two with Morley and Undercliffe leap-frogging Manningham Mills who were beaten for the first time this season by Great Horton.

Shabbir Elahi (4-20) and Mohammad Ramzan (4-61) bowled out Manningham Mills for 170 to seal a 19-run win fro Great Horton. Najid Chaudhry (55) was top scorer for Mills. Batting first, Great Horton made 189 all out with Waheed Iqbal hitting 64 and Jameel Akhtar (45)

Hartshead Moor were quite literally cur down against Morley. Slow bowler Andy Cutt took six for 19 as Moor were dismissed for 134. Morley eased to victory with Richard Winn string an unbeaten 53.

Undercliffe, the division's only unbeaten team, defeated lowly Gomersal by 95 runs. Craig Smith hit 63 and Andy Wilsdon (51) as Undercliffe made 243 all out. Gomersal were dismissed for 148 with skipper Chris Rhodes top scoring with 38. Sonny Matharu took three for 34 and Abid Jahangir (3-40).

Opener Saj Haider hit 65 as Bradford & Bingley beat Saltaire by seven wickets. Michael Clarke (38) and James Dunn (37) also chipped in with valuable runs after Saltaire were restricted to 181-9. Adnan Bhatti top scored with 50.

Windhill moved up to fifth after a two-wicket win at Idle. Danny Maguire (5-52) and Dave Pearce (5-59) bowled out Idle for 176 despite the efforts of Shane Marshall (63). Adam Sutcliffe hit 60 as Windhill eased home.

Bankfoot enjoyed a first win of the season but are still bottom of the table. Kanwat Bhopara (61) and Richard McKirgan (60no) steered them to an eight-wicket win after Wayne Robinson had taken five for 32 as Brighouse were dismissed for 152.