Woodlands hold nerve to clinch title triumph on final day of season
Woodlands are champions of the Bradford Cricket League for the fifth time in the last seven years.
A thrilling title race has seen a number of twists and turns throughout the year, but ultimately it was the Albert Terrace men who were consistent enough to finish on top of the Premier Division, two points ahead of Townville who pushed them all the way right to the final day of the season.
On the last day Woodlands knew their task was to win and collect enough bonus points to ensure no last minute slip up after they had been helped by the weather the previous week to take over top spot, taking care of their own business while Townville’s game had been abanoned.
The weather this time was set fair and they quickly set about their task of taking 17 points from a game against bottom of the table Pudsey Congs.
Woodlands put Congs into bat and had early success as Muhammad Bilal took three early wickets to reduced the hosts to 29-3.
Mohammed Ibrahim Ahmed (23) and Bilal Butt (21) set about making a recovery, but neither were able to go on after making starts and once Butt was out – caught by Henry Pearson off the bowling of Brad Schmulian – with the score on 71 another decline set in.
The last seven wickets fell for 42 runs and they were all out for 113 as Bilal came back on for a second spell to finish with 5-31, Schmulian claimed 3-27 and Elliot Richardson 2-22.
Although they were chasing a small target it was not as easy as they might have expected for the Woodlands batsmen as they were guilty of playing a few loose shots.
Surprisingly they lost six wickets, but were able to get home inside 20 overs for the victory that ensured they added the league title to their Priestley Cup final triumph from earlier in the season.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Cleckheaton’s captain Ethan Lee carried his bat for an unbeaten 99 as he steered his side to a 92-run win at Carlton.
Lee made his runs off 140 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six. Josh Sullivan (59) shared a second wicket stand of 110 with Lee while Lachlan Doidge chipped in with 41 in a total of 276-6.
Carlton were dismissed for 184 in reply as Jack Luxton led the Cleckheaton bowling with 3-51.
Cleckheaton finished the season in a comfortable seventh position with eight wins and 14 losses from their 22 matches and they will be looking to kick on for a higher finish next year when they will play top flight cricket again.