Bradshaw produce shock win over Booth in Premier Division

Batting first the hosts notched up a respectable 200-7, thanks in the main to Si Collins (69no) and Chris Pell (52) who shared an excellent sixth-wicket partnership of 120 runs.

Then came the fireworks as Andrew Langton (5-33) led the destruction of the usually reliable Booth batting. Only Hasnain Wajid (57) came to terms with the Bradshaw effort as his ten teammates fell like bowling pins, contributing just 15 from the bat between them as four recorded ducks.

This match will go down in Bradshaw Lane history.

Less than a mile-and-a-half down the road at Illingworth St Mary’s the champions were not exactly cruising at 89-4, against Warley, but it collapsed to 103 all out.

Warley’s sixth bowler Cameron van Rensburg (5.3-1-16-6) stepped up and the hosts lost their last six wickets for just 14 runs.

However Warley fared even worse with the lively conditions proving its downfall as, just like several other innings on the day, only two batsmen managed to pass a score of eight runs with four St Mary’s bowlers sharing the wickets - the visitors falling 12 runs short at 89 all out.

Blackley’s Jacob Linsel (5-19) and Ben Pedley (4-29) likewise exploited the conditions at Shelf Northowram HT whose innings lasted less than 30 overs – rolled over for 95 all out, no batsmen here passing a score of 12 runs.

The visitors made light work of collecting maximum points as Daniel Robinon (37no) and Anees Rawat (37) completed the task.

Another example of the testing condition came at SBCI where, on its short journey up Tuel Lane,

Sowerby Bridge crawled to 136-9. Had it not been for a sterling effort from Joshua Wood (73) the score would have had a desperate look about it.

As it turned out Wood’s effort proved match-winning as SBCI fared even worse and were routed for 89 all out.

Its top three batsmen contributed 53 runs with the rest scrambled. The Bridge’s destroyer-in-chief was opening bowler Tom Belfield (6-24).

Copley not only bucked the low-scoring trend but suddenly woke up to the 40-overs format and rattled up 237-8 against Triangle at The Arches.

Gavin Whipp (111) returned to form as he hit his runs at almost a run-a-ball until that old adage of a Nelson got him.

His main support came from skipper Oliver Thorpe’s blast of 45 runs in 21 balls with Liam Turner (4-62) the bowling pick.

Triangle responded well, or at least Christian Silkstone (135) did, but when he fell to Ian Hartley with the score at 215 it was game over to give Copley a very welcome 22-run win, Thorpe adding to his runs with 4-67.

Thornton had much the better of its match at Myrholmroyd as it won by six wickets. The home team batted first with Tom Earle (74) holding together an innings totalling 157 all out.

When Thornton batted Josh Hutchinson (101 not out) returned to his form of last season as he crashed a century in 64 balls, grateful to his partner Greg Soames (21 not out) for not hitting the winning runs that would hve denied him his century – 159-4.

The First Division fixtures in this truncated season were a reverse of last week’s but the winning trio was the same, with no close finishes on this occasion.

Upper Hopton completed the double over Luddendenfoot, much easier than its home win by one wicket.

The Foot won the toss and elected to bat but whilst seven batsman reached double figures none progressed much further and the visitors needed less than 28 overs to dismiss their hosts for 156 all out – Matt Broadbent (4-57) the pick of the bowlers.

The Hopton reply was a true team effort with the scorecard showing scores of 29, 28, 24, 20 not out & 36 not out to reach the target of 160-4.

Low Moor HT also won both its matches against Oxenhope but the home team at least produced a much better performance than of late.

The Trinity were inserted and its top scorers in a total of 230-6 were Adam Forbes (66 not out) and Lee Broadbent (58).

The home team’s batting, which thus far was best described as fragile, showed much improvement with skipper Chris Kibble (55) and Craig Bartlett (46) finding some form.

When Kibble was out at 160-9 Low Moor must have sensed a quick finish but some of last season’s nerves re-appeared as an eight-ball blast from Scott Mallinson (20 not out) only ended when he lost his partner at 190 all out,

Stuart Fenton (4-42) was Trinity’s best bowler.

Great Horton PC found its home surroundings much more to its liking than at Clayton last week and recorded a 76-run win.

Batting first it got off to a flyer as Ricky Hassell (40) and Haris Butt (53) notched 92 for the first wicket, followed by a measured contribution from skipper Adam Beesley (93 not out) as his four other partners joined to post a very challenging 257-5.

Clayton’s response in contrast had slumped to 54-5 before Adnaan Shafique (49) and Sam Wilson (41) restored some pride. but the damage had been done and the innings petered out to 181-9.

In the Second Division seven Bradley & Colnebridge players topped double figures and another all-round team performance brought a total of 201 all out, despite the attentions of Outlane’s Alex Dorotiak (4-72).

The Outlane innings got off to a poor start at 14-2 and it was always behind the chase clock, Lee Mellor (38) its top contributor as it fell for 145 all out,

Irfan Rashid (4-29) and Khalid Khan (4-45) in the wickets.

Greetland had an excellent win at home to Cullingworth by two wickets, albeit with only four balls to spare. Cullingworth batted first and will have regretted not using up all its 40 overs, totalling 171 all out with over five overs going to waste.

Chris Welch (89 not out) did his best to keep the innings alive but lost seven partners in the attempt – surely some of the seven guilty of not helping their skipper through to a deserved century.

In response, with the scoreboard showing 67-6, a quick two-minute trip to William Hills on Stainland Road would have provided a tempting price on a Greetland win.

However Muhammad Zubair (48) and Muhammad Asif (37) took the game to Cullingworth and with a little help landed the odds – 173-8.

Stones had a rare win of late on its visit to Leymoor – taking it even further to the wire by winning off the last ball of the match.

The home tram batted first and set a reachable target of 132 all out – as above leaving twelve overs unused.

The Stones reply was a nail-biting affair as, whilst keeping abreast of the overs remaining, it lost wickets at regular intervals and at 126-9 it was a toss up.

Somehow skipper William Thickett (17 not out) and Gregory Baldwin (1 not out) scampered the winning run at 132-9 – the fine effort of Eddie Raw (5-42) in vain.

The final match of the day produced a massive surprise, and a pleasant one at that for the Southowram faithful.

No doubt they can remember the last time its team scored 247-4, especially in 40 overs, but this scribe is struggling.

Superb efforts with the willow, against visiting Queensbury, from Ian Gledhill (101) and Dean Crosslley (88 not out), including their partnership of 112 runs set up that top score.

The Queensbury innings suffered an early blow when opener Jack Richardson had to retire hurt and when the bad luck continued, as Gareth Walker (39) was run out chasing the Rams score, victory was sealed – Queensbury 161 all out. and with David Jowett (4-41) not missing out on the day.

Premier Division: *Bradshaw 200-7, Booth 83: pts 12-2. *Copley 237-8, Triangle 215: pts 12-5. *Illingworth St Mary’s 103, Warley 89: pts 12-3. *Mytholmroyd 157, Thornton 159-4: pts 3-12. *Shelf Northowram HT 95, Blackley 96-3: pts 0-12. Sowerby Bridge 136-9, *SBCI 89: pts 12-2.

First Division: *Great Horton PC 257-5, Clayton 181-9: pts 11-4. *Luddendenfoot 156, Upper Hopton 160-4: pts 3-12. Low Moor HT 230-6, *Oxenhope 190: pts 12-4.

Second Division: *Bradley & Colnebridge 201, Outlane 145: pts 12-5. Cullingworth 171, *Greetland 173-8: pts 4-12. *Leymoor 132, Stones 132-9: pts 3-12. *Southowram 247-4, Queensbury 161: pts 12-3.