Mellor’s magic spell sinks leaders

Mytholmroyd were knocked off the top of the Foster’s Halifax League by a superb performance from Sowerby Bridge’s Sam Mellor yesterday.
Actions from the game Southowram - batting v Sowerby Bridge CC cricket at Southowram CC
Pictured is Sam MellorActions from the game Southowram - batting v Sowerby Bridge CC cricket at Southowram CC
Pictured is Sam Mellor
Actions from the game Southowram - batting v Sowerby Bridge CC cricket at Southowram CC Pictured is Sam Mellor

The opening bowler had five consecutive wicket maidens to send ‘Royd spinning to 107 all out at Walton Street in reply to Bridge’s 197 for seven.

Mellor emerged with the superb figures of seven for 11 off 13 overs as Bridge climbed to third behind new leaders Jer Lane and Mytholmroyd.

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Jake Dixon took three wickets to help complete a good fightback from Paul Smith’s side, who had recovered from the loss of early setbacks to post a competitive score with 51 from Tim Helliwell, 44 from Mellor and 34 not out from Chris Whitehill.

Jer Lane, chasing a hat-trick of titles and now the only unbeaten side in the Premier, had to work hard for a nine-run home win over Queensbury.

Gurdiv Singh (five for 67 off 20 and 43 runs) was the game’s star performer but ‘Bury couldn’t quite chase down Lane’s 211 for eight after Jason Slator (46 no) had anchored their reply.

Imran Irtza (48 no) top scored for the hosts and Nasir Chowdrey took four wickets.

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Booth slipped to fourth when they crashed to a 164-run home defeat at the hands of Triangle.

A 164-run unbroken fifth wicket stand between Christian Silkstone (112 no) and Neil Uttley (68 no) sent the visitors’ total climbing to 309 for four and Mark Uttley and Dave Turner claimed seven inexpensive wickets between them to complete a day to forget for Booth.

Blackley’s Dom Walsh made the top section’s biggest score of the day - 137 - but still finished on the losing side at Thornton.

All the home side’s top five scored well to post a total of 228 for three and Blackley fell four runs short with their last pair at the crease.

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Walsh was eighth out with the total on 217, falling to Josh Hutchinson (five for 69), who tipped the scales Thornton’s way.

SBCI hit back strongly with the ball to beat derby visitors Warley by 31 runs.

Graham Kinsey’s six for 21 dismissed SBCI for 153, a 100-run stand between the Woods, Tom (62) and Simon (40) checking his progress.

Warley slumped to 39 for five in reply and were unable to recover with four home bowlers among the wickets.

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Bottom side Southowram’s hunt for a first win of the season goes on after spinner Chris Goulden’s four for 20 polished their batting off for 133 and set up a four-wicket win for visitors Copley.

Points (after six games): Jer Lane 59, Mytholmroyd 55, Sowerby Bridge 54, Booth 48, Thornton 43, SBCI 39, Warley 37, Copley 36, Blackley 36, Triangle 35, Queensbury 29, Southowram 21.

Sowerby St Peters and Northowram HT continue to share the lead of Division One in spite of only picking up four points out of a possible 12 yesterday.

Sowerby lost at Bradshaw, for whom second-wicket pair Adam Spendelow (48) and Richard Moore (41) helped them to 185 for seven.

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The visitors also conceded 37 extras and that was virtually the difference between the teams at the finish as Ricky Beaumont’s four wickets helped dismiss Sowerby for 145 after they had been 47 without loss.

It was a similar scenario at Low Moor where Northowram’s batting was found wanting after Chris Conroy (29) and Kier Litjens (46) had got them away to a decent start in pursuit of their hosts’ 203 for seven.

Opener Andy Croasdell (70), Nick Wood (41) and Bradley Williamson (39 no) helped Moor to their total and Williamson showed he had a second string to his bow, taking three for 24 as the Rams subsided to 145 all out.

Promoted Bridgeholme are only two points behind the leading pair after a comprehensive eight-wicket home win over Calder Valley rivals Luddenden Foot.

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Foot were bowled out for 66 by Sowerby the week before and fared little better with the bat, falling victim to an inspired spell from Nazakat Ali.

The former Illingworth player took seven for six off six overs - including a hat-trick - as Foot slipped from 58 for one to 84 all out.

Opener Ollie Hemingway got 50 of the visitors’ runs before being stumped.

Bridgeholme knocked off the runs in 14 overs with James Hudson (60 no) in no mood to mess about.

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Stones remain bottom after a 134-run defeat at Oxenhope, for whom Spencer Mawer made 56 not out down the order before Liam Dyson took five for 39.

Points (after six games): Sowerby SP 54, Northowram HT 54, Bridgeholme 52, Bradshaw 46, Oxenhope 33, Low Moor 31, Luddenden Foot 24, Stones 22.

Mohammed Sohail came up trumps for 10-man Greetland, who beat visitors Denholme Clough by 74 runs in Division Two.

Sohail’s superb six for 14 return included a hat-trick as Clough’s pursuit of 225 for victory fell away and they were 150 all out.

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It was the second six-wicket haul of the game, Tanweer Aslam having taken six for 66 to peg Greetland back after Warren Forster and Shakir Malik had both hit 61.

Cullingworth were convincing 110-run winners over visitors Great Horton Park Chapel in the top of the table game.

Top four Steve Welch (87), Adrian Powis, Graham Rankin (76) and Chris Welch (49) helped Cullingworth rattle up 322 for six on their narrow ground and Chapel were forced to settle for maximum batting points at 212 for seven with Adam Beesley unbeaten on 68 and Matthew Jordan making 60.

Outlane and Old Crossleyans were unable to maintain their decent starts to the season, both losing at home.

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Joe Selby (six for 39) was the key figure up by the M62, where Clayton won by two wickets, while John Stanger (seven for 35) sent Crocs spinning from 117 for six to 126 all out in pursuit of Upper Hopton’s 141.

Perennial strugglers Old Town were unable to follow up their win at Upper Hopton the previous week, Leigh Butterfield’s 74 helping visitors Shelf join them on points at the foot of the table with a 69-run win at Boston Hill.

Points (after six games): Cullingworth 55, Great Horton PC 48, Outlane 47, Old Crossleyans 47, Clayton 46, Upper Hopton 38, Denholme Clough 33, Greetland 32, Shelf 27, Old Town 27.

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