Run chase ruined by rain
THE Drakes League Under 21s put up a spirited run chase against MCC at Honley but their efforts were ruined by rain.
The unlimited overs match, with the final 20 overs from 5.30pm, was an intriguing family affair for the Booths, with John captaining the MCC against sons Harvey and Toby.
MCC elected to bat and Nick Gaywood (ex-Kirkburton) and John Sadler (ex-Hoylandswaine) opened the innings.
Opening bowlers Louis Brook (Scholes) and Jack Hinchliffe (Armitage Bridge) bowled tidily and Hinchliffe was rewarded with the wicket of Gaywood for 16.
Sadler was joined by Brown and MCC started to find the boundary.
Huddersfield struggled to contain the partnership but, just before lunch, Cawthorne’s Jacob Deavin-Baker found the edge of Brown’s bat and Mohammed Ali (Mirfield Parish) took a good catch behind the wicket.
Brown departed for 34 and the MCC were 95-2 at lunch.
During the afternoon session, the Huddersfield side had more success.
Ali took a further three catches behind the wicket Sadler 44, Moorhouse 13 and Carson 5. Ali took two of these catches off the returning Brook, who bowled with excellent venom from the scorebox end and, suddenly, MCC had been reduced from 100-2 to 119-5.
During the final 20 of the MCC innings, Huddersfield continued to bowl and field well.
Will Reeves (Kirkburton) trapped David Sadler for eight and Nathan Jones (Delph) had Jackson caught for 35, so MCC were 165-7 off 50 overs.
Huddersfield then opted for some ‘declaration bowling’, allowing the MCC to declare four overs later on 205-7.
Drakes bowlers shared the wickets evenly, but it was the opening bowlers, Brook (2-34 from 12) and Hinchliffe (1-27 from 9) who were the stand-outs.
The Under 21s started their innings positively, with Yaasar Imtiaz (Scholes) and Nathan Jones hitting early boundaries. Tea was taken after eight overs at 35-0.
After the resumption, John Sadler hung onto a return catch from Imtiaz, who departed for a run-a-ball 26.
Toby Booth (Kirkburton) joined Jones and the pair took advantage of some gentle bowling by Sadler and Lees.
Jones passed 50 in the 28th over and the last hour was called at 30 overs.
Huddersfield were 121-1 needing another 87 runs from 20 overs to win. Then the heavens opened. The rules stated that during the last hour, one over was lost for every three minutes so, on resumption, Huddersfield needed 78 from 5.3 overs.
Booth quickly departed for a well-made 44 and then Jones took sole responsibility for the chase, taking 12 off the 34th over.
However, the rain had spoiled a well-crafted run chase and the target remained elusive.
Huddersfield finished 20 runs short and Jones, despite some wonderful hitting, finished unbeaten on 95 from 108 balls. ■■Drakes League supporters should note the main Under 17 final, the Oldfield Cup showpiece, will be played on Monday at Armitage Bridge between Golcar and Kirkburton (1pm).