Liversedge 125

Keighley 128-4

KEIGHLEY went top of All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Two after a six-wicket victory over Liversedge.

Liversedge elected to bat first on a firm wicket that could produce runs. Skipper Paul Quinlan, fresh from his five-wicket haul the previous week at Brighouse, made the early breakthrough, removing Liversedge captain Matthew Butler for a duck.

Quinlan soon bagged another and was backed up with his opening partner Ben Jagger, who chipped in with three early wickets too, leaving Liversedge on 29-5.

Quinlan made the correct bowling changes at key times, introducing Nathan Storton to the attack who bowled an excellent tight line, tying the Liversedge batsmen down.

Wickets kept on tumbling and the away team were bowled out for 125, Quinlan’s 4-16 off 10 overs was the stand out performance backed up with Jagger’s 3-32 and Storton’s 3-20.

Keighley’s reply was given a steady start with opening pair Luke Chapman and Richard Gould patiently building the runs until Chapman was bowled for 26 in an opening stand of 40.

Veteran Gould did not let this faze him, and despite two further wickets at the other end, he compiled his first 50 in a Keighley shirt.

His only annoyance was getting out three runs short of victory for a compact 59. However, his job was done and Jonny Wilkinson (17 not out) blasted the boundary to seal victory in the next over.

Meanwhile, Keighley seconds travelled to Liversedge and had James Rogers to thank for their away day victory.

Batting first, Keighley's Martin Walker, accompanied by opening partner Azeem Hussain punished some early wayward bowling until Hussain was caught for 17 in an opening stand of 49.

Liversedge’s relief was short lived, however, as vice-captain Hami Shahzad entered the fray and he and Walker blasted Keighley to 160, a partnership of 111, until Walker was caught in the deep for 61 off just 55 deliveries.

Shahzad followed soon after, again caught in the deep for a brutal 71 off only 41 deliveries.

This prompted several further quick wickets; however, skipper Towler was Keighley’s middle order rock compiling a 50 before being caught himself.

Liversedge had bowler Adam Clarke to thank for keeping Keighley in check and his stand-out performance of 6-63, saw Keighley bowled out for 262 in 41 overs.

In reply Keighley got off to a good start, Dillon Birkett making two early breakthroughs, leaving Liversedge on 4-2. However, this brought together keeper Jonny Trevitt and skipper Mark Goodall who patiently put together a partnership of 136 until Trevitt departed for 45.

Goodall departed soon after for 92 but leaving Liversedge well placed at 185-4. Towler, seeing his bowlers toil approached injured bowler James Rogers, who was playing in the seconds due to a knee issue to see if he could break the Liversedge resistance.

Rogers ploughed through the Liversedge mid and lower order, taking 4-14 and bowling Liversedge out for 240.