Sykes blasts

MARTIN SYKES unleashed a blistering batting attack to boost Shelley’s chances of survival in the Drakes League Premiership.

The big opening bowler, batting at No11 against Scholes at Chapelgate, hit five sixes and three fours in an 18-ball 47 not out to catapult his side to 150-9 after they’d been 24-4.

His effort in the rain-affected match helped carry Shelley to an eventual four-run win and move them from bottom of the table to 12th, with a six-point advantage over Mirfield Parish in the race to stay up.

With only one team to go down because of Cawthorne’s departure to South Yorkshire at the end of the season, it could be a significant win for Shelley, who recovered with the help of a half century from former Scholes player Joe Sykes and a crucial 37 from Josh Scott.

Sykes then breathed genuine life into Shelley’s hopes with his onslaught, although an opening C Tipper Alexander Scholefield ...................................................................... A Gleave* ct Luke Williamson Craig Fletcher ................................................ L Hargreaves ct Shaun Woodhams Javaid Ahmad .................................. W Qasim ct William Reeves Aaron Moore ..................................................... U Yaqoob ..................................................................................................... X Selby .......................................................................................................... Extras lb (5), w (7) ................................................................................................ For Wkts (7) TOTAL ................................................................................................... 50 Overs A Scholefield Ahmad stand of 94 between Tom Chadwick (40) and Alex Clegg (57) appeared to have put Scholes in command. But their innings was twice interrupted by rain and, despite 21 not out from Eden Pearson, the home side fell agonisingly short.

Golcar also picked up what could be a vital victory against Cawthorne.

Solid batting right down the order, including half centuries from Jake Lockwood and Aussie Sam Mills took Steve Whitwam’s side to a challenging 255 for six.

Mills then removed the Cawthorne openers as they fell to 57-4, and wickets fell regularly despite a fine century from Liam Wiles – he hit 115 off 138 balls including 14 fours and three sixes – as Cawthorne were all out for 212.

Will Hinchliffe took four for 41 and Whitwam three for 70.

Parish lost by six wickets at home to Honley to fall bottom of the table. L Sykes ct Bradley Birkhead Louis Brook ....................................................... H Jones*† ct Alexander Clegg Louis Brook ................................................... G Barden Louis Brook ............................................................................................ S Raza Butt ct Louis Brook Tom Chadwick ..................................................... M Ramzan st Bradley Birkhead Louis Brook .................................................. J Sykes st Bradley Birkhead Yaasar Imtiaz ................................................. J Scott st Bradley Birkhead Louis Brook ...................................................... M Bhoola ct Alexander Clegg Tom Chadwick ............................................. R Bandula-Don Yaasar Imtiaz .......................................................................... L Brothers ...................................................................................................... M Sykes ........................................................................................................ Extras (5), w (13) ............................................................................................... For Wkts (9) TOTAL ................................................................................................... 31 Overs T Chadwick A Walker ....................................................................................................... D Sykes st Shahban Raheem Nadim Hussain ................................................ Extras lb (5), w (17), nb (5) ................................................................................ For Wkts (all out) TOTAL ......................................................................................... 48.4 Overs N Jamal D Wood Nicky Smith ............................................................................................ J Anderson ................................................................................................. S Raheem† .................................................................................................. Extras (1), w (2), pr (5) ....................................................................................... For Wkts (1) TOTAL ....................................................................................................... 12.4 Overs A Walker M Gummerson Asif Afridi .................................................................................. J Morley ct Tom Barrett Jack Pearson ......................................................... S Ur-Rehman ct Robert Hions Wasim Javed ............................................... A Mohammad Khan ct Ovais Hussain Wasim Javed ................................ A Rashid (Wasim Javed) ........................................................................ B Hamid Wasim Javed ........................................................................................... M Gummerson ct Asif Afridi James Anderson .............................................. C Cowell ........................................................................................................... S Allen*† ct Asif Afridi James Anderson ........................................................ A Ghafoor ....................................................................................................... Extras (5), lb (6), w (2), nb (4) ...................................................................... For Wkts (7) TOTAL ................................................................................................... 50 Overs W Javed Anderson O Hussain Aizaz Mohammad Khan ........................................................ R Hions† Max Gummerson ........................................................................... T Barrett Aizaz Mohammad Khan ..................................................................... A Afridi ct Sami Ur-Rehman Abdul Ghafoor ................................................ M Khan Amar Rashid ................................................................................... L Risdon ct Gareth Myers Amar Rashid ........................................................ O Ahmad st Seb Allen Amar Rashid .................................................................. M Clark Aizaz Mohammad Khan ..................................................................... W Javed ........................................................................................................ J Anderson ................................................................................................. Extras (5), lb (1), w (5), nb (12) ..................................................................... For Wkts (8) TOTAL ................................................................................................... 47 Overs A Mohammad Khan A Ghafoor

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