Bradford League Div One: Champs humbled

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Monday 7th Jun 2004.

Cleckheaton bounced back in the best possible way from their two defeats over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Having surrendered the leadership to Pudsey Congs, they beat the defending champions by 30 runs at Moorend.

Adam Patel (35) and Ishmail Dawood (33) added 62 for the second wicket in Cleckheaton's 146 all out, Mark Bray taking five for 28 and Naveed Rana ul-Hassan four for 58.

For once Congs failed to find a partnership and were dismissed for 116, Ian Austin bagging a superb five for 20 off 20.4 overs and Faisal Irfan five for 42.

Congs, whose first defeat of the season this was, now lead by just three, and Idle maintained third place with a four-wicket triumph at basement boys Baildon.

JP Yadav (6-48) and Ian Dewhurst (3-60) were the only bowlers used by Idle as Baildon were dismissed for 114, Chris Thompson (46 not out) seeing the visitors home after Mark Gilliver's 38.

Woodlands are fourth on their own now after Safraz Ahmed's six for 44 had helped to dismiss hosts Mirfield for 87. Tim Orrell (47 not out) and opener Russell Murray (26 not out) added 62 unbroken for Woodlands' third wicket.

Three Pudsey St Lawrence players got into the 70s in their impressive 282 for six at home to East Bierley, James Smith making 73 not out, opener Mark Whitehead 72 and Gary Fellows 70.

Smith's innings included five fours and six sixes arrived in just 33 minutes - the quickest of the season in terms of time.

Jonathan Proud (40) and William Porterfield (69) put on 77 for Bierley's first wicket and Porterfield and James Goldthorpe (36) added 62 for the second, but they finished with a point on 204 for seven.

Spen Victoria are now three points from safety after an eight-wicket home defeat against Farsley. Gareth Lee had a fine match for the visitors, taking four for 37 and hitting 44, putting on 69 for the second wicket with Ashley Metcalfe (58 not out). Craig Hitchenor (3-46) and Ian Philliskirk (24 not out) also weighed in. Gharib Razak (55), Chris Elstub (31) and John Wood (28) were the best for Spen.

Undercliffe gained a much-needed winning draw at home to Hanging Heaton, thanks to Mark Gill (58), Steve Phillips (37), Greg Lambert (4-56) and Munir Khaliq (3-46).

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