Cleckheaton poised to strike before rain hits

Richard Wear of Gomersal goes on the attack before rain stoipped play in his sides Bradford League Championship B game at Methley. Picture: Steve Riding

Cleckheaton had reached 71-5 from 20 of their 34 overs in reply to the Farsley total of 166-7 when rain stopped play.

Curtis Free warmed up for his outing for the league representative side who take on Yorkshire tonight, by claiming 3-54.

A fourth-wicket stand of 65 between Dan Hodgson (44) and Ryan Cooper (37) was a key element in the Farsley innings, while Chris Henry smashed four sixes as he made 32 from just 13 balls late on.

James Wainman, who is among the Yorkshire side who will take on the Bradford League, was the main Farsley threat with 3-29.

John Wood (26) was Cleckheaton’s top scorer, while wicketkeeper Mally Nicholson and Jimmy Lee were the not out batsman with the Moorenders requiring 95 to win from the final 14 overs when the match was halted.

Champions Pudsey St Lawrence inflicted a second-successive defeat on Hanging Heaton by seven wickets.

In a match reduced to 25 overs, St Lawrence extended their 100 per cent record to five matches as they opened an 18-point gap at the top.

Hanging Heaton lost wickets in their pursuit of quick runs and were bowled out in 20.3 overs for 106.

They looked like being dismissed for an even smaller score when leg spinner Tom Hudson (3-18) took three wickets in five balls to reduce them to 83-9. Last man Dan Busfield pushed the score past the 100 mark with an unbeaten 16.

St Lawrence lost the reliable Mark Robertshaw to an early run out but Barrie Frankland (51no) and Adam Waite (31) ensured they reached their target with eight overs to spare.

Defeat for Heaton allowed Morley to take second place from them with a three-wicket triumph at New Farnley

Morley secured their third win in five matches by chasing down New Farnley’s 156-9 with four balls to spare.

Overseas player Kashif Naveed was a key figure for Morley as he took 4-23 and made 37 in the successful run chase.

Henry Rush (25), George Robson (23) and Ben Jenkinson (20no) all played their part for Morley as they inflicted a third defeat on third-bottom New Farnley.

The home side had built their total around the contributions of Nick Walker (35), Richard Atkins (28) and Lee Goddard (27).

The bottom two sides, East Bierley and Scholes,saw their respective matches at home to Woodlands and away to Pudsey Congs abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The clash between Bradford & Bingley and Lightcliffe was abandoned early in the Lightcliffe innings as they replied to Bingley’s 154-6.