Birstall 180 all out

Keighley 181-6

KEIGHLEY grabbed a four-wicket win over third-placed Birstall in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Two.

Birstall skipper Nick Kaye won the toss and elected to bat and leave the Keighley players baking in the field in the hot afternoon sun.

Keighley skipper Paul Quinlan is in a rich vein of form and it did not take him long to make his mark, taking two early wickets to leave Birstall reeling at 4-2.

However, steady knocks from wicketkeeper Ian Carradice (38), Matthew Dyson (23) and Kaye (36) saw Birstall drag themselves back into the game as the Keighley bowlers wilted in the field.

It was a wicket, though, from part-time bowler Luke Chapman which tilted the scales back to Keighley and, once Quinlan returned to the attack, he set about the Birstall lower order, which saw them bowled out for 180 in the 45th over.

Quinlan returned impressive figures of 6-41, the season is not even halfway through, yet he has nearly 40 victims to his credit already.

In reply, Keighley’s dependable opening pair of Chapman and Richard Gould got the home side off to another steady start but with 37 on the board Gould was bowled for 14, which signalled a mini-collapse, which included Chapman for 19, as Keighley suddenly found themselves in trouble on 42-3.

Vice-captain Max Davidson dug deep, however, and backed by Keighley’s young batsmen, he found partnerships with Louis Horsfield (19), Jonny Wilkinson (18), Nathan Storton (17) and Abe Kenny (20 not out) as Keighley ran out winners by four wickets, Davison helping himself to 52no.

With second-placed Wakefield St Michael’s surprising defeat to Brighouse, the Lawkholme Laners now find themselves 30 points clear at the top of Championship Two. They entertain Wakefield St Michael’s in another crucial game this weekend.

Meanwhile, a youthful Keighley seconds travelled to Birstall looking to extend their lead at the top of Championship Two.

Birtsall won the toss and elected to bat first and, despite an early breakthrough from Keighley’s Dillon Birkett, the Birstall batsmen made hay on a good batting track.

Keighley’s bowlers struggled with the heat and excellent knocks from Miraj Khan (55), Zulfikar Mohammed (34) and Sam Isles (33) saw Birstall post a challenging 191-5 in their allotted 45 overs. Pick of the Keighley attack was Jack Rogers with 2-26.

In reply, Keighley looked to be cruising towards the winning line with solid performances from wicketkeeper Martin Walker (46), 15-year-old Raees Hussain (28) and veteran Ash Robinson.

On 140-4 it looked like another Keighley victory. However, once Hussain was bowled the lower order collapsed and what little hope they then had was ended as Robinson fell for 33.

The last five Keighley wickets fell for just 15 runs leaving them 165 all out, 26 runs short of their target and their first league defeat of the season.

They are still 38 points clear at the top and will be hoping to make amends this week at Scholes.