RIDDLESDEN snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in Sunday’s Manorlands Plate final at Keighley Cricket Club.

Chasing 119 for victory against Gargrave in the 100 balls-per-side competition, for most of Riddlesden’s innings it looked as if the Keighley team would lose the last of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League’s cup finals.

For example, they were 43-4 at halfway and 75-6 after 75 balls, as Bradley Gardner’s swing bowling had put them in bother on his way to figures of 5-27.

However, skipper Mohammed Gulnawaz had the answer, hitting 41 not out to lead Riddlesden to victory, although he needed a slice of luck when Gardner, of all people, dropped him on the cover boundary, with the ball then going over the ropes for four.

Riddlesden won by four wickets just ahead of the final set of five.

Man of the match Gulnawaz said of the final: “It was a hard game, but we knew we had the batters to do it.

“We were confident during the interval but didn’t think that we would lose that many wickets.

“As for my shot to the cover boundary, I knew that it came off the middle so that it would need to be a good catch.”

Keighley News: The Riddlesden team celebrate their success on Sunday.The Riddlesden team celebrate their success on Sunday. (Image: UGC.)

Riddlesden could easily have lost their semi-final to Wilsden too, who dropped six catches as their opponents made 138-7.

Tayyab Ishaq (35), Arfan Mahmood (32) and Mohammed Kamran (32) got in the runs for Riddlesden against Wilsden, for whom the outstanding Owen Pacey, who bowled full and straight, took 5-16.

Chasing 139 when they could have been needing less than three figures, Wilsden finished on 125-7, Chris Longley hitting 31 and Sikander Mahmood 28 as Gulnawaz took 3-19.

Gargrave won their semi-final by five wickets over Silsden, with opener Lee Barrett scoring an unbeaten 79, including 14 fours and a six, in their 122-5.

The dew had lessened by the time this second semi-final got underway, and Dominic Mortimer made 50 for Silsden, who donated £168 to the Manorlands charity.

Gardner took 3-20 and off-spinner Matty Simpson 3-15 to keep Silsden in check before Barrett took over with the bat to send Gargrave into the final.

Keighley CC president Bob Cryer thanked the spectators and players for donating to a great charity, and thanks were also due to Allan Birkett and his groundcrew and Paul Barker and his catering staff.

As for the league, Riddlesden are seeking to surely become the first side to win Division Three, Division Two and Division One in successive seasons.

Riddlesden need a maximum of 26 points from their last three matches, and Gulnawaz said: “We are confident.”