Cleckheaton reach second semi-final

Gavin Hamilton followed up his 49 against Hanging Heaton on Saturday by making 59 to steer East Bierley into the Priestley Cup semi-finals.

John Wood’s men have their sights firmly set on a treble as they are also through to the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy last four and lead Bradford League Division One.

Cleckheaton are joined in the Priestley semis by local rivals East Bierley, who overcame Bradford & Bingley by eight wickets in their quarter-final, but Woodlands bowed out after losing by 61 runs at home to Pudsey St Lawrence.

Mally Nicholson top scored for Cleckheaton with 49, while Tim Jackson and Tanzeel Altaf both made 27 as the home side were bowled out for 195 off the penultimate ball of their innings.

David Stiff claimed 4-52, while there were two wickets apiece for Dan Busfield, captain Gary Fellows and David Paynter.

Heaton were reduced to 66-5 in reply, despite Paynter’s 31, before second teamer Imran Dawood and Stiff threatened to rebuild the innings.

When big hitting Stiff was caught on the boundary for 17, Heaton were again up against it and when Dawood fell for a battling 48, it signalled the end of their challenge and they were bowled out for 157.

The spin bowling of overseas player Altaf yielded 4-29, Scotland pace bowler Iain Wardlaw finished with 3-31 and captain Wood also claimed a couple of wickets, including a stunning caught and bowled to dismiss Ben Elvidge.

East Bierley spinner Luke Jarvis took 4-42 to help dismiss Bradford & Bingley for 191 in their quarter-final.

Openers Mark Gill (66no) and Gavin Hamilton (59) continued their fine form from Saturday’s league win over Hanging Heaton to guide 2012 cup winners Bierley into the semi-finals.

Woodlands were looking to avenge Saturday’s first league defeat of the season at the hands of Pudsey St Lawrence and they felt confident at tea having restricted the visitors to 139-7, with Chris Brice claiming 4-21.

However, it proved a winning total as Woodlands were skittled out for 78 with Craig Wiseman (4-19) and Richie Lamb (3-22) producing superb spells.

Undercliffe will stage the final on Sunday August 24 and they are also through to the last four.

The second division leaders produced another giantkilling act, following their victory over Morley in the last round, with a 70-run success against Pudsey Congs.