East Bierley storm to victory as rain wrecks programme

Division One
East Bierley were the day’s big winners as they defeated Hanging Heaton by 59 runs in the only game to be completed as rain devastated the fixture list.

The victory earned them 18 points and enabled them to climb into second place above Pudsey St Lawrence whose match with Lightcliffe was the only other one to start, but was abandoned before the end of the first innings.

East Bierley are now 34 points behind unbeaten leaders Woodlands who they entertain at South View Road next Saturday.

The match at Hanging Heaton proved to be a run feast despite being reduced to 29 overs a side. East Bierley made an impressive 257-6 while Hanging Heaton replied with 198-7 as the match produced 455 runs.

There were no fewer than 30 sixes hit – 19 by East Bierley and 11 by Hanging Heaton – and a total of 22 fours added to the entertainment for the spectators.

East Bierley didn’t look like posting such a big score when openers Gavin Hamilton and Mark Gill were dismissed cheaply as they slipped to 19-2.

The revival was launched by skipper Lee Goddard. The former Derbyshire and Durham player hit six sixes and two fours as he made 68 off 45 balls.

After Goddard’s departure the tempo was increased by Andrew Rennison and debut-making overseas player Rao Anjum.

Rennison struck six sixes and five fours as he made 85 from 63 balls, while Anjum, who played one Test and 60 one-day internationals for Pakistan, smashed a breezy 46 from 24 balls which included four sixes and three fours.

With former Derbyshire and Leicester player Nick Walker making an unbeaten 31 from just 15 balls, East Bierley finished with a total that would have been challenging in a 50 over contest.

The Hanging Heaton bowling figures reflected the savaging the batsmen handed out. Paceman David Stiff picked up two wickets but his seven overs yielded 75 runs.

Hanging Heaton needed to score at nine an over if they were to win. It was no surprise that they were unable to achieve it, but they did manage to reply in spirited style.

Joe Fraser’s unbeaten 60 and opener Mark Lawson’s (41) meant they were able to earn three batting bonus point. Fraser’s inning was punctuated with four sixes and four fours, but East Bierley’s bowlers ensured their side wrapped up what could be a priceless win.

Off spinner Kez Ahmed was their most successful bowler with 3-52, while Richard Atkins was the most economical with 1-28 from his seven overs.

Pudsey St Lawrence looked to have bowled themselves into a match-winning position against Lightcliffe when rain brought their match to an end with the visitors struggling on 125-8.

Young New Zealander Andrew Pollock dismissed former Yorkshire and Derbyshire opener Chris Taylor with his fifth ball and then made it a miserable first return to Tofts Road for the ex-St Lawrence batsman Alex Stead who was bowled for a golden duck.

Pollock added the wickets of Yorkshire’s Alex Lees and overseas player Suleman Khan as Lightcliffe plunged to 28-5.

The only batsman who managed to combat the threat of Pollock (4-47) and Gareth Clough (3-12) was teenage batsman Andy Gorrod.

He produced his best innings since his move from Gomersal, as he made an unbeaten 51 which helped his side to 125-8 when play was abandoned.

The remaining games, Woodlands v Pudsey Congs, Farsley v Saltaire, Undercliffe v Bradford & Bingley and Cleckheaton v Manningham Mills were abandoned without a ball being

Division Two
There wasn’t a single ball bowled as all six matches were abandoned due to the heavy rain.