Key part of the at Woodlands
WOODLANDS’ overseas stalwart Sarfraz Ahmed intends to retire at the end of this season – but says he’ll never abandon the club that’s been his family for 16 years.
Ahmed has spent over a decade and a half with the Bradford Premier League club but is calling time on his playing career at the age of 42.
Such a period with a single team as an overseas professional is almost unprecedented in league cricket but Pakistani fast bowler Ahmed explained it was an easy decision despite interest from other clubs.
“This is my last season, I want to be finishing on a high note, putting in everything,” he said.
“I’m announcing my retirement at the end of the year after the Priestley Cup final, but I’ll never leave the club, they’re my family and it will be very sad when I finish.
“Woodlands is my family club. I spend a large part of the year here, it feels like home to me, the management and team-mates love having me here and I love being with them.
“Because of that I can give 100 percent, there’s no headaches, no stress or anything like that, the management and everybody look after me extraordinarily well.”
Ahmed took 3-32 on Saturday but with Woodlands bowled out for just 101 and falling to a 46-run defeat, they remain in mid-table.
Hanging Heaton took a big step towards the Bradford title, moving 20 points clear, as David Stiff’s quick-fire 62 against secondplace Pudsey St Lawrence proved crucial in a 20-run win.
And Ahmed was full of praise for the quality of the league, in which he claims to have taken nearly 800 wickets.
“The other leagues don’t match up to us, it’s a very tough league,” the left-arm seamer added.
“The umpires and opposition play cricket every game the right way – it’s what makes it so enjoyable after 16 years.Teams in other leagues have made me some great offers but I would never go.”
A three-way battle continues at the summit in Liverpool with Northern, Ormskirk – who beat Lytham by eight wickets with oneTest wonder Simon Kerrigan taking 3-10 – and Leigh all victorious.
North Staffs & South Cheshire league leaders J G Meakin lost to Moddershall by five wickets while Chester Le Street edged ahead in the North East race after Newcastle slipped up.
Ramsbottom maintained their perfect record in Lancashire after beating Lowerhouse by six wickets but Burnley have narrowed the gap to just two points.
In Yorkshire North George Ross had a superb all-round day with 4-40 and 47 for leaders Harrogate as he helped them to a one-wicket win over Dunnington.
And Muhammad Attari’s 6-30 inspired relegation-threatened Treeton to a three-wicket victory over league leaders Wakefield Thornes in Yorkshire South.
Tom Burton’s 175 not out for Walmley in Birmingham gave them an important victory at the bottom of the league, and just six points now separate four clubs at the wrong end of the table.
Former England spinners Monty Panesar and John Emburey were hit for 143 runs but it didn’t prevent Totteridge Millhillians from powering past Potters Bar by seven wickets in Hertfordshire thanks to an unbeaten 120 from Steve Selwood.
In Southern, Hampshire Academy’s Brad Taylor struck an unbeaten 118 to ensure they beat St Cross Symondians by six wickets, while South Wilts’ Jake Winter bludgeoned 14 fours in a 111-ball 109 against Lymington.
Toby Codd took four wickets for only two runs as Bovey Tracey skittled Devon’s bottom-placed Brixham for 63, while Sidmouth No.9 Kyle Brockley plundered 96 runs from just 56 balls to help the league-leaders go 30 points clear.
And in neighbouring Cornwall Toby Whiteford’s 150 from 155 balls helped Redruth see off bottom-placed Newquay.