Keighley 205-9

East Ardsley 150-9

LEADERS Keighley sealed a 55-run victory over East Ardsley in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Two.

Keighley skipper Paul Quinlan lost the toss and was asked to bat first in damp conditions.

Keighley’s opening pair of Luke Chapman and Richard Gould got the home side off to a great start sharing yet another half-century stand. The pair put on 79 before Chapman was bowled for 33, with Gould the next wicket, but not before he had posted another half-century being given caught behind for 50.

Despite given this good foundation, Keighley’s middle order failed to capitalise and thanks in the main to East Ardsley’s Louie Hurley (5-57) wickets fells at regular intervals leaving them 145-6 at one stage.

Max Davidson, needing a partner, found one in wicketkeeper Adam Smith, who blasted a quick 17 from just 20 deliveries, Davison himself finishing 45 not out before the weather intervened with Keighley 205-9 with an over left.

Tea was taken early, and skipper Quinlan decided to declare, meaning East Ardsley needed to chase the score down in 49 overs.

East Ardsley's openers gave them a solid start, but with 34 on the board, overseas amateur Abe Kenny made the breakthrough bowling Richard Vigars for 21. Kenny wasn’t finished though, and he quickly took two more wickets including the other opener Gary Jennings for 23.

Wickets continued to fall, but also, tight bowling and good fielding saw the away team being pushed further behind the run-rate and even though Keighley failed to bowl East Ardsley out they batted their full overs for 150-9, handing Keighley a 55-run victory.

Pick of the bowlers was Kenny with 3-15 and Quinlan with 3-38.

Despite the win, Keighley’s lead at the top of Championship Two was cut to 17 points thanks to second-placed Wakefield St Michaels' impressive victory against Altofts.

Meanwhile, Keighley seconds proved too strong for Hartshead Moor.

It was deja-vu for Keighley’s second string as they travelled to Hartshead Moor, their second clash inside a fortnight with Keighley winning the first game, a Priestley Shield Cup match.

Keighley skipper Alex Towler won the toss and asked the home side to bat first and Hartshead skipper Martin Ellis was soon trudging back to the changing rooms caught by Towler off Ben Jagger for five. Wickets fell regularly, and it was only a fine 53 from Hartshead wicketkeeper Andrew Croft that kept the home side's total respectable as they were bowled out for 165 in the 38th over, Hami Shahzad finished with figures of 4-18, Jagger 3-39 and Towler 2-15.

Despite an early wicket, in-form Keighley batsmen Sam Murphy and Shahzad set about the Hartshead bowling with gusto, Murphy helped himself to 59 off just 50 deliveries, while Shahzad was even more brutal smashing 70 from just 43 deliveries.

This left Towler to take his team over the line with 24 not out and an impressive seven-wicket win.

The victory sees Keighley an impressive 36 points clear at the top of Championship Two, they host Spen Victoria down at Lawkholme this weekend.