AFTER an agonising close defeat to Carlton the previous week, Keighley’s first eleven entertained Morley in their Bradford Premier League Division One match down at Lawkholme still looking for their first victory of the season.

And they did just that, winning by 110 runs after yet another star turn from young Australian overseas signing Noah McFadyen.

Skipper Scott Etherington won the toss and was more than happy to bat first on a flat looking wicket.

Etherington himself opened up with Billy Whitford and a cautious start saw the Keighley openers put 76 on for the first wicket before Etherington was caught for 31.

Whitford followed soon after for a bright 37. bringing overseas McFadyen and Nathan Storton together at the crease.

What happened next was a masterclass in batting as the two players completely brutalised the Morley pace and spinning attack.

McFadyen, who had starred the previous week with a score of 137, continued where he left off, using the excellent batting wicket to his advantage, which in turn inspired Storton to emulate his Australian teammate.

The pair posted an unbeaten partnership of 248 to take the Lawkholme Laners to 345-2 at the interval.

McFadyen posted 142 not out in just 89 deliveries with nine sixes, including five in one over, and eight fours.

Storton was no slouch either, hitting 104 off just 98 deliveries, with his century coming with a six off the last ball of the innings.

Ijaz Ahmed trapped Jack Rowett for a duck in the first ball of Morley's reply, and despite every other Morley batter making double figures, they were never anywhere near getting close to Keighley’s huge score.

Kavindu Kulasekara top scored for Morley with 80 as they finished their innings on 235-7.

McFadyen (2-48) and James Massheder (2-56) were the pick of the Keighley bowlers.

Keighley travel to high flying Jer Lane this coming weekend looking to build on the victory.

In Division Two, Crossflatts downed Hunslet Nelson by four wickets.

Keighley’s second string, containing no less than five third team players, travelled to Hopton Mills at the weekend in Division Two of the reserves league in the Bradford Premier League.

Stand in Keighley skipper Greg Wilkinson lost the toss, his team being asked to field first in warm and sticky conditions.

But it was Keighley that made early inroads into the Hopton batting order with Harry Barker (2-55) and Steve Butterfield working the slope and an uneven bouncing wicket to their advantage.

At one point it looked as if Hopton would capitulate for less than 125 but Hopton skipper Andrew Moorhouse (53) and Philip Bland (47 not out) steadied the ship with some powerful hitting and were able to steer their team to 206 all out.

Pick of the Keighley bowlers was Butterfield with an excellent return of 5-31.

Keighley’s reply, although positive, saw wickets fall at regular intervals but solid efforts from opener Tahir Mehmood (49) and Harry Barker (46) moved the score along.

Last wicket partners Louis Wilkinson and Paul Barker managed to push the score to 204 with one ball to go, but sadly with two needed to tie, the latter’s flash of the bat for glory missed the ball and Keighley ended up agonisingly short of victory.

The seconds entertain Brighouse at Lawkholme this coming weekend.