Posted: June 24, 2007

 

Townville are the first side through to this season's Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup after defeating Esholt by 150 runs in the only one of the four quarter-finals to be played.

The other ties Saltaire v Idle, Undercliffe v Wrenthorpe and Wickersley v Delph & Dobcross were all abandoned without a ball being bowled. They have all been rearranged for Sunday, July 8.

In contrast, Townville are home and dry. They had to dodge a couple of showers but managed to complete their game.

Townville had their JCT 600 Bradford League Division Two opponents under pressure throughout. The Townville batsmen set the tempo as they racked up a score of 270-6.

Lee Smith led the way with a fine 78 while Salman Faizal Khan (44) and Dan Clayton (41) prospered against an Esholt attack in which Shahzaib Khan (4-34) was the best performer.

Esholt lost their dangerman Richard Whitehurst in the opening over of their reply and never recovered. Ben Platt battled hard for his 52 but Nick Bresnan (4-45) and John Rickers (2-13) made sure that Townville carried the Solly Sports Central Yorkshire flag into the last four. Esholt being dismissed for 120.

The Crowther Cup was similarly affected by the weather. There wasn't a single ball bowled at Spen Victoria v Shelley, Woodlands v Mirfield Parish Cavaliers and Birstall v Keighley, but there was play at Skelmanthorpe.

There was a three hour delay before play finally got under way at 4pm. Visitors Saltaire batted first and made 159-8 with Mick Robinson making 45 not out while Paul Roebuck took three for 15 for Skelmanthorpe.

The home side were 63-2 after 21 overs when play ended. The two teams were unable to resume on Monday night due to heavy rain so they will try again on Tuesday.

The draw for the semi-finals of both the Heavy Woollen and Crowther Cups will still go ahead on Tuesday evening at 7.30pm. First news of the draw will be posted on this website immediately after the draw is completed.