Encouraging signs from youngsters but Rastrick sides lose out
THE OPENING weekend was a disappointing one for Rastrick Cricket Club as both first and second teams suffered defeats.
It was always going to be a tough start to the season as new captain Matthew Lambert entertained a strong Almondbury Wesleyans XI at Round Hill.
Majid Khan and veteran Steven Holroyd pushed the score towards respectability but when Khan departed for a breezy 32 and Holroyd was dismissed for 31, the Rastrick innings slumped to 93 all out.
Wesleyans reached 58 before Rastrick made a breakthrough, with Sunil Singh dismissing Alex Taylor for 30, but the visitors went on to win with just two wickets down and nearly 25 overs remaining.
Rastrick’s seconds also fielded a new captain as veteran Matt Clark took a young side to face strong Edgerton & Dalton opposition.
Rastrick’s young opening bowler Alex Bracher had opener Muhammad Islam brilliantly caught by Nathan Shaw for two.
However, Imran Rawat blazed his way to 66 as the hosts reached a mammoth 355-8.
Edward Overend (2-47) and
Logan Swann (1-22) bowled well on the senior debuts and there were two wickets each for Paul Shaw and Paul Carter.
The hosts were never really in the hunt but a good partnership between Nathan Shaw (22) and Swann (26) gave them a decent platform.
Swann’s stay lasted 70 deliveries which was an excellent effort from a 14-year-old making his senior debut.
There was also an encouraging cameo from another 14-year-old, Adam Dakin, who hit 42 not out before Rastrick closed on 105 all out.
Rastrick will be hoping for a better return this weekend, when the firsts travel to Lascelles Hall and the seconds host Birkby Rosehill.
■ Lightcliffe were well beaten by Birstall in the opening game of the Bradford League’s Championship 1 season.
There were two wickets for new vice captain Jack Hendy, two for skipper Rob Burton (229) and one for debutant legspinner Gavin Whipp as Birstall scored 301-6.
That proved too hot for Lightcliffe, who fell 99 runs short on 202-8.
Skipper David Knight, in his first appearance since September 2019, crafted a superb 121 not out in Lightcliffe seconds’ clash with Woodlands in the 2nd XI Premier.
Fourteen-year-old Finn Brookes confirmed his promise as he contributed to a partnership of 58 as Lightcliffe posted 217-7.
However, Woodlands responded and despite debutants Mark Sumpner and Conor Butterworth taking three and two wickets respectively, Woodlands reached 218-8 in the penultimate over.