Sting in tail after Cockburn ton

Northowram Fields were trying to pick themselves up for a cup game against Birstall today after losing to a six off the last ball at Carlton yesterday.
Actions from Lightcliffe v Scholes, cricket, at Lightcliffe CC. Pictured is Joshua Wheatley celebrateActions from Lightcliffe v Scholes, cricket, at Lightcliffe CC. Pictured is Joshua Wheatley celebrate
Actions from Lightcliffe v Scholes, cricket, at Lightcliffe CC. Pictured is Joshua Wheatley celebrate

Only a maximum would do for the hosts off Will Parkin’s final delivery of the Bradford League Championship 2 game and the home number 10 batsman connected well to a full-length delivery and sent the ball over long on.

Visiting skipper John Lister, whose side had lost narrowly at Liversedge the previous week, said he was “absolutely gutted” with the outcome. “We bowled and fielded well and didn’t deserve to lose,” he said.

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Earlier, under 17s player Louis Cockburn had hit his maiden first team century, the opener making 105 in a total of 225 all out.

Carlton made a solid start but the visitors pegged them back well to set up an exciting finish.

Lister said no blame could be attached to Parkin, another youngster promoted from the seconds after paceman Josh Bennett suffered an ankle injury playing in a football cup final.

Lightcliffe backed up their first win of the season at Bradford & Bingley the previous week with a comfortable seven-wicket home win over neighbours Scholes.

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The visitors arrived with high hopes of a third win on the bounce but were undone by Josh Wheatley, Suleman Khan and Alex Stead.

Scholes struggled to score against the spin of Wheatley (4-34 off 14.4) and overseas man Khan (2-30 off 15) and had to settle for a modest total of 162-8 in which Asitya Waghmode (35) and Yasir Ali (33) were the top contributors.

Openers Stead (70) and Wheatley (56) put Lightcliffe well on the way to victory with a stand of 129 and a couple of late wickets couldn’t save Scholes from a comprehensive defeat.

Joe Gale’s second fine knock on successive days helped Walsden make it five wins out of five if their new Lancashire League surroundings.

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The Pennine League champions were four-wicket home winners against Rochdale but had a few anxious moments along the way.

Rochdale made 229-9, helped by a second wicket stand of 120 between Ben Chapman (64) and professional Ed Moore (53). Umesh Karunarartne and Josh Gale each took four wickets to keep the visitors in check.

Walsden were 38-4 in reply with Josh Gale, skipper Nick Barker, James Rawlinson and Sri Lankan Karunaratne all falling to Steve Oddy.

However, opener Jake Hooson (43) was still there and he and the experienced Matt Dawson (59) added 90.

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Hooson’s departure brought Joe Gale to the crease and he picked up where he had left off in a T20 match against Milnrow the previous evening.

He followed up his unbeaten 102 with 62 not out off 36 balls to seal victory with 20 balls to spare.

The margin of victory was also four wickets at nearby Centre Vale but Todmorden were beaten by Crompton, who were notching a four-timer.

Tod gave a patchy batting display, not helped by a duck for pro Chris Schofield, and their total of 159 all out in the 46th over left them vulnerable.

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Ben Sutcliffe (46) and Kristian Garland (39) fared best, adding 65 for the fourth wicket.

The outcome was in doubt when Crompton lost their fourth wicket on 88 but skipper Simon Wright’s 41 not out helped to settle matters.

Barkisland were breathing a sigh of relief after finally getting off the mark for the season in the Huddersfield League.

Darren Robinson’s side, relegated from the Premiership in 2017, overcame a stuttering start to run out emphatic 176-run winners at home to promoted Almondbury.

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The hosts looked in trouble at 86-6 with Imran Muhammad (5-48) doing the damage but wicketkeeper Phil Ackroyd scored a run-a-ball 81 to lift the total to 248. He added 94 for the eighth wicket with Aussie Sam Moyle (34).

Almondbury were dismissed for 72 in little more than 25 overs in reply with the wickets shared.

Also in the Championship, there were other convincing wins for Rastrick and Elland, who lie second and fourth respectively.

Professional Asif Afridi was in top form for the Round Hill side, taking 6-8 to dismiss hosts Lepton Highlanders for 90 all out after a fairly solid start.

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Rastrick lost their top three fairly quickly to Imran Khan but the Afridi show was completed by his unbeaten 65 to seal a six-wicket win in only 14.2 overs.

Liam Fletcher top scored with 88 and took a couple of inexpensive wickets as Elland beat Lascelles Hall by 87 runs at Hullen Edge.

Third-wicket pair Fletcher and Paul Winrow (61) paved the way for a very healthy home total of 267-6.

Skipper Alastair Finn then took 4-35 as Hall, after a rapid start, were dismissed for 180 with Sheheryar Hassan (60) their top scorer.