Steve shines as Bridge edge victory

Steve Shannon proved that brother Chris is not the only match-winner in the family when Sowerby Bridge beat Booth in a thrilling low-scoring Foster’s Halifax League contest yesterday.
Jon Stenson for Blackley at Mytholmroyd on SaturdayJon Stenson for Blackley at Mytholmroyd on Saturday
Jon Stenson for Blackley at Mytholmroyd on Saturday

The brothers were on opposing sides and those who thought Chris would have the bigger impact, after his 131 for Booth in the opening win over Thornton, were wrong.

On a day when most captains were desperate to field first, on rain-hit wickets, the flip of the coin favoured Bridge, who duly bowled out their visitors for 115.

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Steve Shannon revelled in the conditions, taking six for 37 after two more brothers, Rob and Richard Laycock had scored 57 between them for Booth.

The visitors slumped to 88 for nine and needed an unbeaten 15 from number 11 Ollie Collinge to help get them up to 115.

That was so nearly enough. Paul Gledhill (37) and James Taylor (23) helped Bridge into a strong position but Andrew Truscott (four for 33) and Ian Sharkey (three for 21) also found the deck to their liking.

Bridge slipped to 79 for eight and Sam Mellor hit a big six and a couple of fours before being bowled by Nigel Horsfall.

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However, number 10 batsman Steve Shannon hit a low, flat six through the off side to bring the scores level and then pierced the field for the winning run to see Bridge home with 10 not out.

Bridge are joined on the maximum 24 points after two games by champions Jer Lane and Mytholmroyd.

Lane were six-wicket winners at Warley where Sam Wilson’s four for 55 helped dismiss the home side for 162.

Mick Hustler’s men lost Andrew Pinfield for seven but the rest of the top six all contributed well, notable Raqeeb Younas with 54.

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‘Royd flattened last year’s runners-up Blackley by 10 wickets and Chris White, Steve Senior and Tom Earle repeated their heroics from the big win at Bradshaw the previous week.

White took another six wickets, as Blackley were bowled out for 135, and this time Senior (80 no) outscored Earle (46 no) as Mytholmroyd romped home in only the 18th over.

Lee Broadbent (121) and Joe Lewis (66 no) helped Bradshaw to 267 for six at Triangle but Kurtis Whippey plundered 89 off 60 balls and Liam Turner 60 off 31 balls as the home side registered a three-wicket win.

A fifth-wicket stand of 126 between Mark Baldwin (52) and Nick Gomersal (64) dominated Copley’s innings at Thornton.

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They helped Copley recover from 22 for five to 170, Joe Blencowe taking six for 44.

The fluctuating nature of the contest continued with Thornton slipping to 17 for four. However, Ross Soames (62), Mick Shanks (32), Ross Parr (34) and ultimately Blencowe (16 no) gave Thornton a two wicket win with an over to spare, Ian Hartley’s five for 38 being not quite enough for Copley.

Amjad Ali has certainly hit the ground running for Queensbury, who have made a bright start in their quest to step up on last year’s third place in the middle section.

Ali blasted 146 not out in the win at Outlane on the first weekend and followed up with 74 and five for 52 as his side beat 2012 champions SBCI by 128 runs.

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It was by no means a one-man show, Scott Osbourne making 103 while Ali hit 10 sixes and one four for the home side.

Tom Wood took three for 41 but SBCI were still left chasing a total of 280 for six.

That proved way beyond them as spinners Ali and Gurdiv Singh (four for 36) set to work, SBCI being dismissed for 152 with George Hampshire’s 142 the top score.

Bridgeholme have maximum points in Division Two after Dan Fielden (34 no) and Ollie Challis (32 no) helped them from 56 for five to a target of 118 for victory at Shelf.

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Thirteen wickets fell for 81 runs and no batsman made double figures at Bradford Park Avenue, where Wibsey Park Chapel bowled Greetland out for 40 and won by seven wickets.

Matthew Jordan and Stuart Fenton took five wickets each for the winners.

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