Rain rescues Hartshead Moor from jaws of defeat

Hartshead Moor were rescued by the weather as their Bradford League Championship B game was abandoned with them on the brink of defeat to Bowling Old Lane.
Hartshead Moor were on the brink of defeat when rain stopped play.Hartshead Moor were on the brink of defeat when rain stopped play.
Hartshead Moor were on the brink of defeat when rain stopped play.

Old Lane racked up maximum batting points as they reached 233-4 in a match reduced to 40 overs a side.

Ahsan Butt hit a six and 14 fours on his way to 102 and was joined in a second-wicket stand of 160 by Adal Islam (82).

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Hartshead were then reduced to 53-9 when play was abandoned after Islam claimed 6-29 to put his side within one wicket of the win when the weather intervened.

Rain also prevented a conclusion to the match between Brighouse and Spen Victoria.

Spen restricted the home side to 142-9 in their 30 overs as young spinner Alex Leadbeater took 3-35.

Spen’s Kiwi opener Nick Montgomery was unbeaten on 31 when play was abandoned with his side on 61-1.

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Hopton Mills slipped to a two-wicket defeat at the hands of third placed Methley.

All-rounder Marcus Walmsley and captain Grant Soames were the key figures in Methley’s win.

Walmsley took 6-24 and was backed up by Sohail Raz (3-43) as Hopton were bowled out for 126, with overseas player Louren Steenkamp (49) top scoring for the home side.

Methley had a couple of nervy moments in reply as they lost four wickets for six runs when victory was in sight but Soames stood firm and steered his side to victory with an unbeaten 54.

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Ashley Mackereth (3-48) and Andrew Grey (3-42) ensured that Methley didn’t have things all their own way.

Gomersal have slipped to fifth place after a 33-run defeat to Altofts.

New Zealander Matt Holstein was again the key figure for Altofts in a match reduced to 32 overs.

Holstein’s 72 enabled Altofts to make 162-8 and he followed up by taking 3-49 as Gomersal were restricted to 129-8.

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Adam Greenwood’s 55 was the highlight for Gomersal whose best bowlers had been James Russell (3-23) and Richard Wear (3-40).

Not even the weather can halt leaders Townville. They dodged the showers and defeated Carlton by 66 runs to extend their 100 per cent record to 12 games.

Even a reduction to 35 overs per side didn’t trouble Townville as they piled up a score of 241-7, which enabled them to earn another 20-point maximum.