First teams review June 2 2012

Division One

Former Yorkshire fast bowler David Stiff hit a blistering unbeaten 124 as he powered Hanging Heaton to a six-wicket win over Manningham Mills at Bennett Lane.

Stiff made his runs off just 76 balls and smashed eight sixes and 12 fours as his side raced past the Manningham Mills total of 279-9 with 32 balls to spare.

The big-hitting Stiff, who had earlier taken 4-64, was joined in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 192 by Joe Fraser who batted more conservatively for his unbeaten 60 which was made off 90 balls.

It was a second-successive defeat for Mills who looked to have posted a challenging score when they batted first. Openers Farakh Hussain (45) and Masood Ahmed (30) gave the innings a sound start but the bulk of the runs came in a fourth-wicket stand of 136 between Gulsheraz Ahmed (77) and Ali Noman (67).

Stiff and skipper John Carruthers (4-77) were the most successful bowlers for Hanging Heaton who have now moved up to third in the table after a match that saw 25 sixes hit, 14 for Manningham Mills and 11 by Hanging Heaton.

The day’s second century maker was East Bierley’s new all-rounder Nick Walker as they took a maximum 20 points for their 114-run win over Farsley.

The winter recruit from Welwyn Garden City rescued his side from 66-5 with a maiden JCT600 Bradford League century. Walker wasn’t intimidated by the situation his side was in and blasted his was to an unbeaten 113 from 92 balls with three sixes and 16 fours.

With help from fellow new boy Richard Atkins (40), East Bierley posted a score of 244-9, despite the efforts of Chris Henry (4-79).

Farsley were dismissed for 130 in reply with only Mark Harrison (52no) showing defiance to an East Bierley bowling attack that is due to be boosted by the arrival next week of former Pakistan opening bowler Rao Anjum. Kez Ahmed was the best of the East Bierley bowlers with 3-35.

Second-placed East Bierley are 22 points adrift of leaders Woodlands, who defeated Lightcliffe by 86 runs to record their fifth-successive win.

Woodlands looked to be in trouble at 60-5 after a lively opening burst from Yorkshire paceman Moin Ashraf 3-27, but the experienced Tim Orrell came to the rescue with an unbeaten 52 and was well supported by Chris Brice (37) as they posted a score of 183-8. Left-arm spinner Suleman Khan picked up 3-53.

Lightcliffe made a disastrous start to their reply with openers Chris Taylor and Alex Lees both being dismissed for ducks as their side plunged to 38-6 against the new-ball attack of Sarfraz Ahmed (3-17) and Pieter Swanepoel (3-24). Skipper Jonathan Wilson made an unbeaten 31 but his side were dismissed for 97 as Brice (3-16) mopped up the tail.

Yorkshire paceman Iain Wardlaw(5-50) and Ian Wood (5-43) bowled Cleckheaton to their first win of the season by 59 runs at Saltaire.

The home side looked to be progressing steadily while Fahid Rehman (44) and Irfan Amjad (32) were at the wicket, but once they were dismissed, Wardlaw and Wood ran through the rest of the batting.

Saltaire subsided from lost their last eight wickets for 49 runs as they were bowled out for 135 in reply to a Cleckheaton total of 194-7. Overseas player Ammer Mahmood made 43 and Ian Nicholson (42).

Pudsey Congs climbed off the bottom of the table with their second-successive win. They defeated Undercliffe by six wickets.

Left-arm spinner Glenn Roberts, making his first league appearance of the season, demonstrated his importance to the team with 4-42 as Undercliffe were dismissed for 165. Yorkshire batsman Callum Geldart made Undercliffe’s top score of 78 while former Tykes opener Ashley Metcalfe made 39.

Opener Nick Lindley continued his good form with a knock of 59 as he shared a first-wicket stand of 88 with Gareth Phillips (37). Skipper Andrew Bairstow then saw his side home with an unbeaten 44.

Pudsey St Lawrence paid the penalty for not building on the good work of James Smith (64) and skipper Mark Robertshaw (50) as they went down by five wickets at Bradford & Bingley.

Smith’s lively innings contained a six and ten fours, but none of the later batsmen could get going and a final total of 172 all out was to prove insufficient.

Bradford & Bingley got home with ten balls to spare thanks to a pain-staking 50 off 134 balls from opener Scott Etherington and an unbeaten 36 from Matthew Duce.