First teams review Sunday, July 22

Division One

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale made his return to action after a month’s lay off with a hip injury but missed out on the opportunity for some much- needed batting practice in Cleckheaton’s 122-run win at Hanging Heaton.

Gale, who has been sidelined since June 18, opened the batting for Cleckheaton but lasted just 19 balls before being dismissed for just eight – caught by former Cleckheaton player James Stansfield from the bowling of Rob McFarlane.

The 28-year-old left-hander would have hoped for more time in the middle as he strives to prove his fitness ahead of Yorkshire’s important Friends T20 quarter-final with Worcestershire at Headingley on Wednesday.

Despite the disappointment for Gale, Cleckheaton built a total of 198-8 with two former county players John Wood (Durham and Lancashire) and James Lee (Yorkshire) leading the way. Skipper Wood made 42 and Lee (35).

On an afternoon when his brother Tim was toiling away for England, Nick Bresnan took4-46 and John Carruthers (3-44) for Hanging Heaton.

It was one of Gale’s Yorkshire colleagues who caught the eye when Hanging Heaton were skittled out for 76. Iain Wardlaw took an impressive 5-24.

Leaders Woodlands were given an almighty scare by lowly Farsley. The champions won by just four runs after a dramatic match.

Woodlands looked in danger of their first defeat of the season when they were bowled out for just 111. Only opener Sam Frankland (34) seemed at ease as off spinner Mark Harrison (4-10) and Chris Henry (3-43) posed problems.

As has happened so often in the past when Woodlands have been defending a low score, they hit back strongly. This time it was Steve Piercey (5-28) and Chris Brice (3-14) who came to their rescue, but last man Henry almost snatched the game from their grasp.

Coming to the wicket with his side 91-9, Henry hit two sixes before he was caught and bowled by Piercey with just five runs needed for Farsley to secure a much-needed win.

Second-placed East Bierley were indebted to former Derbyshire and Leicestershire batsman Nick Walker for their slender two-wicket win over Manningham Mills. Walker hit five sixes and six fours in a rapid 67 of 46 balls which enabled his side to overcome a challenging Manningham Mills total of 266-9.

East Bierley’s hopes looked slim when skipper Lee Goddard (50) and overseas player Rao Anjum departed in quick succession to leave their side at 140-6, but Walker had other ideas as he went on the offensive and dented the figures of Zeeshan Qasim (4-74) and Iqbal Khan (3-83) as victory was achieved with nine balls to spare.

Defeat was particularly hard on Mills’ batsman Gulsheraz Ahmed who made a sparkling unbeaten 109. He struck nine sixes and eight fours and along with in-form opener Farakh Hussain (42) provided the bulk of his side’s runs. Anjum (3-37) was the pick of the East Bierley bowlers

East Bierley are just one point ahead of Pudsey St Lawrence who scored a 74-run win over Undercliffe who are propping up the table again after this latest reverse.

Once again St Lawrence were given a good start with skipper Mark Robertshaw (83) and Adam Waite (46) putting on 98 for the first wicket. James Smith chipped in with 30 as St Lawrence, despite the efforts of Imran Khan (4-74), made 237-8.

Undercliffe never seriously threatened the St Lawrence target as they were dismissed for 163. Opener Matthew Bottomley (44) was the only player to look like posting a substantial score as off spinner Chris Marsden continued his good form with (4-40) while Gareth Clough took 3-6.

Saltaire responded to dropping to the bottom of the table last week in the best possible way with a convincing five-wicket win over fast-fading Bradford & Bingley which lifts them to eighth place.

Once again the fragility of the Bradford & Bingley batting was exposed as Nawaz Sardar followed up his 6-15 against Pudsey Congs last week with 4-19. Skipper Ijaz Khan (3-16) also kept the pressure on Bradford & Bingley who would have been dismissed for a far smaller total than their eventual 155 if opener Scott Etherington had not carried his bat through the innings for an unbeaten 61.

Saltaire made easy work of the run chase as they reached their target with 23.5 overs to spare. The experienced Javed Umarji led the way with an unbeaten 47 while Sardar (35) and opener Irfan Amjad (30) also made key contributions.

Pudsey Congs, who have won the league championship six times in the past 12 seasons, are just two points and two places off the bottom of the table after a six-wicket defeat by Lightcliffe.

They were undone by Lightcliffe’s trio of spin bowlers. Suleman Khan (4-36), Josh Wheatley (4-42) and Chris Greenwood (1-30). They bowled a total of 39 overs and picked up nine wickets for 108 runs.

At one point Pudsey Congs were 96-1, but once Nick Lindley (36) and Babar Butt (27) departed, the innings went into decline and a final total of 157-9 was never going to be sufficient for their patched up attack to defend.

With overseas paceman Muhammed Naved not bowling at all and spinner Glenn Roberts absent, Lightcliffe seized the initiative. Openers Alex Lees (40) and Chris Taylor (32) added 74, and now Lightcliffe slipped to 108-4 at one point, Alex Stead (35no) and Charlie Roebuck (27no) saw them home with 6.5 overs to spare despite the efforts of off spinner Edward Walmsley (3-42).

Division Two

Baildon took advantage of leaders Yeadon being without a game to cut their lead at the top to just eight points.

Spin bowler Mushtaq Ahmed was their star turn with 6-12 as opponents Great Horton were dismissed for just 78.

Skipper Craig Hitchenor (3-30) also exploited the helpful bowling conditions, then Simon Webb hit an unbeaten 36 to seal an eight-wicket win.

Morley squandered their chance to make up ground in the promotion race as they suffered a 14-run defeat to Keighley in a low-scoring game.

Things looked to be going well when they bowled Keighley for 97 with Kashif Naveed taking 4-17 and Nathan Bromby (3-13), but the wheels came off when Morley batted. Dave Nebard made a battling 38 but he lacked support as Amjid Hussain (4-15), Joe Stead (3-13) and skipper Max Davidson (3-28) dismissed Morley for 83.

Gomersal’s young seamer Josh Fell took his haul of wickets to 14 in the last three matches with 5-46 in his side’s three-wicket win over neighbours Spen Victoria.

Fell was again the pick of the Gomersal bowlers as Spen Victoria made 181-9 in their 50 overs with opener Nicky Rushworth hitting 57 and Dan Shuffe (49).

Gomersal were guided to their target with nine balls to spare by their experienced opening batsman Richard Gould. He made 83not out and with support from Greg Pickles (37) ensured his side eased home. Former Gomersal skipper Rob Burton (3-55) was the pick of the Spen bowlers.

Another young opening bowler in good form is Hartshead Moor’s left-armer George Saville. He took 6-19 as his side dismissed Brighouse for 80 to secure a 65-run win.

Craig Field was the top scorer in the Hartshead Moor innings making 32 out of their total of 145. Will Smith (4-12) and Kamran khan (4-37) were the best of the Brighouse bowlers

Bankfoot’s mature opening bowling attack of Greg Colehan (5-38) and Nigel Hanson (3-22) Helped bowl out Idle for 77 as their side secured a 68-run win. Kanchana Rodrigo was the top scorer for Bankfoot with 47 in the face of some good bowling from Sohail Hussain (5-15)

 Overseas player Devraj Patil has proved to be a good acquisition for Bowling Old Lane. His unbeaten 68 helped them secure a six-wicket win over Windhill.

Former Old Lane player Mansha Khan (52no) top scored for Windhill in their score of 177-8. Jack Holland chipped in with 39 while the persistent Zubair Najeeb took 3-37.