Cricket
| READER VIEWS | | | WORTH VALLEY NEWS |  | | | KNIGHTS OUT | | | MEMORY LANE | | | | AIRE VALLEY NEWS | | | | CARTOONS | | |
|
|
|
Cullingworth begin title defence with easy win
 |
| Crossflatts' skipper Mick Brooksbank hit 86 as his side beat Cowling by 36 runs on the opening Saturday of the Craven & District Cricket League season. |
The eagerly awaited start of the season for the Mewies Solicitors Craven & District League on Saturday was devastated by the weather of the previous week.
For those players who did get onto the field of play, it was a three sweater day. Of the 31 games scheduled, just over half actually started. Liam Roberts of Barrowford became the first centurian of the season and Bryan Hollis of Glusburn II the first eight-wicket taker.
In the First Division, the top two from last year, Cullingworth and Thornton met at Booth Bridge Lane. On a slow, damp but playable wicket the home side were put in and they found runs hard to come by. After 17 overs the score was just 17.
It was only when Rob Foster came in that the pace quickened. He had scored 24 when he played too early and only succeeded in slapping the ball to Dave Hall at cover. The only other player to get into double figures was Steve Laycock who made 15 as the innings ground to 89 all out in 44 overs.
The visitors' new South African recruit, 19-year-old Brandon Varley finished with six for 25 and a touch of hypothermia.
He is used to playing his cricket in temperatures of 28 degrees. Another recruit, Nigel Brett, made 43 not out as he and Steve Welch (45not out) saw the champions to a comfortable ten-wicket triumph.
Liam Roberts scored 103 as Barrowford made 214-3 at Glusburn. He was ably assisted by Aussie Benno Schickler 49 and David Flounders 42. However the Park Field side stormed to a three-wicket victory with Sean Williamson making 69 and Matt Lloyd 56.
Crossflatts' skipper Mick Brooksbank made 86 as his side plundered 203-8 over at Cowling. The home side replied with 167-8 with Gareth Frankland top scoring with 44.
 |
| Glusburn's Mark Johnson drops this catch from Barrowford's new overseas player Benno Schlicker. Glusburn won the match by three wickets on Saturday. |
Newly-promoted Cononley posted 187-9 at home to Sandy Lane. Charles Calvert made 37 with Mark Paynter and veteran John Pearson chipping in with 31 apiece.
Sadly it wasn't enough as the visitors got home by three wickets with over six overs to spare. Wasim Aktar led the way with 85 and S Zubair made 37 as Paynter finished with four for 29 off nine overs. Another good thing for the visitors was the return to cricket for Steve Carass, who missed most of last season through injury.
Oakworth were unable to start against Embsay and there was no play at Bingley Congs, who were to host Bradley.
Demoted Sutton were hoping to start life in the Second Division in style over at Chatburn but they came unstuck losing by seven runs. The Ribble Valley side were dismissed for just 92 with Paul Craig making 27 as Ben Bolland took 4-22.
The South Craven side were then knocked over for 85 with Russell Braithwaite taking six for 39 off 12.5 overs.
The red rose derby at Noyna saw visitors Pendle Forest rattle up 202-5 in their overs against Foulridge. John Bracewell made 45, Matthew Lutz (42 not out) and Alex Summerscales 42.
Foulridge fell 42 runs short of their target despite 56 from Chris Gildea and James Lickess 33. Simon Turpin took 5-33 and Summerscales 3-58.
Down at Baildon Bottom visitors Denholme were restricted to 94-8 with seasoned campaigner David Wear making 45 and veteran Mick Holmes took 5-23. Haworth Road sauntered to a seven-wicket win with Chris Griggs making 43.
There was no play at Haworth, Ingrow or Ingrow St John's.
Long Lee II got their Third Division campaign off to a winning start. They entertained Ingrow St John's and had them back in the hut for 129. Q Khaksar made 36 as Shabaz Ahmed took 6-51. The home side were wobbling at 85-5 then Haz Haider 32 not out and Robson Smith 14 not out took them to the winning post.
Barrowford II ran into league vice chairman Bryan Hollis in sparkling form. The evergreen took 8-17 as the red rose side were shot out for a miserable 49. This was in reply to Glusburn II's 84. Alan Coney scored 38 as Tom Greenwood took 3-15 and P Carey 3-7.
Gargrave made a winning start at home to Cowling II. Mark Batty made 56 as the visitors made 122-9. A Iqbal scored 38 not out and the home side got home by six wickets.
There was no play at Airedale II, Carleton and Embsay II.
In the Fourth Division Riddlesden enjoyed a resounding victory, by 183 runs at Pendle Forest. Nasser Kamal 66 and Adam Khan 46 helped the Keighley side to the day's highest score of 219. The Fence side then crumpled to 36 all out with Mick Hawkes taking 4-19 and A Ayub 3-3.
Ingrow's Aide Stokes made 45 and S Cunliffe 30 not out to help them to 171 up at Penistone Park with Joe Holt taking 4-27. Tinashe Gomwe continued from where he left off last year by making 71 not out to go with Callum Jones' 33 as Haworth WE strolled to victory by six wickets with ten overs to spare.
No play was possible at Bradley, Crossflatts or Sandy Lane.
Surprisingly, given how close they are to the river, play was possible at Riddlesden II. Visitors Foulridge II made 90-8 and the home side replied with 57.
Pendle Forest III were at home to Oakworth III. The red rose side were dismissed for 77 with Oliver Stell taking 4-14. The Cure Hill side got home by five wickets.
No start was made at Skipton CI, Sutton, Denholme or Eldwick & Gilstead.
3:14pm Thursday 24th April 2008
Print 
Email this 
Comment
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
