Bradshaw push Sowerby nearer drop

They lost by 21 runs to Bradshaw in yesterday’s battle of the bottom two in the Premier Division to be cut adrift with five games left.

Bradshaw were tottering at 97 for five until an 89 run stand between Steve Beck (59) and Adam Spendelow (23) lifted their total to a competitive 196 for eight, Matthew Hoyle taking five for 59.

Dan Crosland made 53 for the hosts but he became one of four victims for Lee Broadbent. Veteran Andy Ingham took three wickets, including the important one of Josh Graham (37) late on as Sowerby’s innings was wrapped up for 175.

Blackley further eased their drop fears with maximum points from a two-wicket win in a low scoring game at Sowerby Bridge.

Nazim Irshan struck three early blows to leave Bridge 22 for four and the hosts needed 25 from Chris Roy and 34 from Ashton Richardson to muster one batting point at 107 all out.

Blackley were well on course at 45 for one but Steve Shannon set up a tense finish with five for 30, Bilal Sheraz seeing the visitors through.

At the top, Jer Lane narrowly avenged last Sunday’s Parish Cup final defeat against Copley to stay firmly on course for the title.

They had to settle for nine points, Copley making 140 for seven and Lane scrambling home by three wickets.

The home side needed the help of a hard-hit 29 from a second teamer called up when Bobby Khan damaged a hand moving a sight screen before the game.

Mytholmroyd and Booth remain well back in the second and third in spite of collecting 12 points each from away wins.

Royd’s game at Thornton, in which they overhauled the hosts’ 272 for six to win by five wickets, was notable for two players’ innings.

Wayne Cotton batted through for 127 not out for Thornton, hitting 14 fours and five sixes and figuring in a couple of century stands with Chris Ramsden (53) and Greg Soames (56).

However, even that fine knock was better by Adie Gawthrope, who thumped 160 not out for the visitors. He hit 15 fours and 11 sixes to make mincemeat of a lofty target, his side winning with 10 overs to spare.

Richard Laycock unusually didn’t open the bowling for Booth at Southowram but took eight for 47 coming on as second change.

Last man Gavin Moody’s 30 helped the Rams reach the maximum batting points mark of 180 before he was out.

Laycock then showed his prowess with the bat as Booth were faltering at 36 for four. He made 60 and Chris Shannon 66 in a stand of 98, the latter departing with only one required as Booth won by three wickets.

The top three in Division One, SBCI, Queensbury and Northowram HT all banked another 12 points.

SBCI stay four ahead of Queensbury and 19 ahead of the Rams after a comprehensive 152-run home win over fading Oxenhope.

A 81-run opening stand from George Hampshire (46) and Matty Scholefield (40) gave them a promising start and Chris Dalby (52) and Tom Wood (30 no) helped them post 211 for seven.

Lewis Hopkinson (25) was the only visitor to make double figures as Oxenhope capsized to 59 all out with Ben Summerscales and skipper Jamie Sykes picking up three very cheap wickets apiece.

Nick Bickers took six for 36 for Clayton to help limit hosts Queensbury to 150.

However, it was then the turn of the Clayton batsmen to struggle and the visitors were dismissed for 109 with spinners Amjad Ali (five for 38) and Gurdiv Singh (three for 39) again coming up trumps for the title contenders.

Under 17s bowler Harry Talbot dismissed the first six batsmen as Outlane were rolled over for 100 in reply to Northowram’s 270 for nine up by the M62.

Quick bowler Sam Gardner made 67 with the bat and Chris Conroy (42), Matthew Smith (41) and Kier Litjens (39) also scored well.

Luddenden Foot picked up a vital 12 points at Low Moor in their efforts to stay out of the bottom two.

Isaac Baldwin (71) took advantage of an early ‘life’ to continue his great run of scores in Foot’s 206 for nine.

Bradley Williamson’s first half-century of the season was in vain for Moor as veteran Craig Smith (four for 30) helped dismiss the hosts for 168.

Bridgeholme strode nearer the Division two title when they won by 46 runs at Greetland and second-placed Cullingworth only had 10 men at Denholme Clough and lost by 53 runs.