First teams review August 25 2012

Division One

Rain wrecked the day’s programme with all of the matches being abandoned . The six matches produced a total of just 118 overs cricket.

One team who were relieved to see the weather halt their game were champions Woodlands. They were in danger of suffering a second defeat of the season against Saltaire when play was washed out.

Woodlands were reduced12-4 at one point in their 28 overs a side game. Second team batsman Liam Brearley, in the side as replacement for overseas player Sarfraz Ahmed who has returned home following the death of his father, made a battling 34 not out as Woodlands limped to 94-8. Yasir Qasim took 3-31.

Saltaire had reached 19-0 in seven overs when the rain returned to bring a premature end to a game that Saltaire were well placed to win.

The most cricket was played at Hanging Heaton where Pudsey Congs made 226-6 in 45.4 overs before the match was halted.

The five batting points earned by Congs enabled them to pull further clear of the relegation zone. Consistent batting from Nick Lindley (40), Edward Walmsley (35no), Eugene Burzler (33) and Basil Akram (32) enabled to build their total despite the efforts of John Carruthers (3-76).

Cleckheaton and Lightcliffe, two teams keen to make up ground on leaders Woodlands, had their efforts to play a 20 overs contest wrecked by the rain.

Lightcliffe made 128-6 thanks largely to 34 from second team skipper Matthew Taylor as paceman James Lee took 3-29. Cleckheaton were making good progress at 47-2 in eight overs when the end came.

The remaining three games had barely got started when they had to be abandoned. Bradford & Bingley had reached 23-1 in seven over at Farsley, Pudsey St Lawrence had made 20-0 in 7,2 overs against Manningham Mills and East Bierley scored just one run in two overs at Undercliffe.

Division Two

Play was possible in just one of the six matches and the rain again prevented the two sides from achieving a result.

Third-placed Morley, looking to capitalise on Baildon and Yeadon having their matches abandoned without a ball being bowled, made 176-5 in their 30 over contest.

Their innings was dominated by a fourth-wicket partnership of 97 between overseas player Kashif Naveed and skipper Matthew Baxter which rescued their side from 28-3.

Baxter hit three sixes and four fours in an unbeaten 70, while Naveed’s 59 contained seven fours. George Saville was the most successful bowler with 3-60.

Hartshead Moor were 62-2 after 12 overs when play had to be abandoned following a heavy shower.