KEIGHLEY entertained local rivals Baildon at the weekend down at Lawkholme in Division One of the Bradford League.

With a slight improvement in weather conditions around the Keighley area, the ground staff did a marvellous job in getting the pitch fit for a reduced 44-over game.

Keighley skipper Max Davidson won the toss and invited Baildon to bat first, as the wicket was damp, with seam and swing expected.

Despite an early breakthrough from veteran bowler Paul Quinlan, Baildon pair Kevin McDermott and Jonny Reynolds proceeded to take apart the Keighley attack with a brutal batting display that saw them put on 115 for the second wicket.

McDermott departed for 59 but this did not stop Reynolds continuing his assault on some wayward bowling.

He finished with a superb 100 not out from just 102 deliveries as Baildon closed their innings on 219-4.

Quinlan was easily the pick of the Keighley bowlers, finishing with 3-63, Nathan Storton picking up the other wicket.

With a mountain to climb, Keighley’s batting line up had to come out swinging and not surprisingly wickets fell at regular intervals.

One of the issues this season so far is that no Keighley batsman has really gone on to make a big score and so it proved again.

Despite seven batsmen attaining double figures, no one went on to produce a match-defining total.

Raees Hussain top scored with 34 the home side were bowled out for 178, suffering a 41-run defeat.

Keighley are hoping to have several players back in contention this week for what will be a very tough trip to Undercliffe.

The team’s second eleven made the short journey to Baildon with a young, experienced team that was missing a host of key men.

Led by Brett Kinsey (3-26), Baildon’s bowling attack preceded to run through Keighley’s batting line up.

Only 14-year-old Mohammed Abbas (30) and Dillon Birkett (42) showed any resistance to the swing and slow wicket, as they managed to get the Lawkholme Laners to 101-9 in their allotted 45 overs.

Like in previous weeks, Keighley did not make the chase easy for the opposition, and once again Abbas (3-31) and Harry Barker (2-12) were among the wickets.

But there was too much to do for the Keighley bowlers, and Baildon got over the line with six wickets down.

Keighley’s second string played their second game in two days when they travelled to Bowling Old Lane for the first round of the Priestley Shield.

Once again, Keighley had to field an understrength side, which was missing many senior players and included many third-teamers.

Old Lane could see this and with the weather putting the game at risk, did not hesitate in inviting Keighley to bat first in order to go for a quick kill.

This proved to be a good call.

With only Hrithik Patel (22) offering any resistance, Keighley were bowled out for a paltry 52 in the 28th over.

In reply, the home side quickly chased down the total in the sixth over for the loss of just one wicket, meaning the seconds have not progressed from round one for six years.