Brennan leads from the front in Warley win
Warley won the Crossley Shield for the second time in three years when they beat Mytholmroyd by 99 runs in Sunday’s Foster’s Halifax League second teams’ final at Old Crossleyans. On a showery and windy day at Broomfield, skipper Craig Brennan showed the way as Mytholmroyd were dismissed for 69 in reply to Warley’s 168.
Brennan took five for 19 in his nine overs to win the man of the match award and he will be hoping his side can go on and complete a double.
Warley are 14 points clear in the Premier Division after picking up 12 points against nearest pursuers Sowerby Bridge last Saturday.
Ryan Severn made 60 and Andrew Oates 40 for Warley, who took advantage of some short bowling.
The favourites looked set for a big total until slow bowler Dan Murgatroyd stopped them in their tracks.
Murgatroyd (three for 13) and Jon Russell (three for 32) helped Mytholmroyd pick up the last eight wickets for 35 runs.
Murgatroyd’s first 53 deliveries went for seven runs but the last ball in his nine over allowance went for six.
Tom Russell’s side looked back in the contest but their batsmen never got going against experienced opening bowlers Brennan and Rob Keywood.
Only number nine Sam Walker (17) and number seven Dan Murgatroyd (10) made double figures.
Beaten skipper Tom Russell said Brennan and Keywood had shown his quicker bowlers where to pitch the ball.
“It was just a shame we couldn’t do better with the bat,” he said.
“They bowled well and got what they deserved.” Mytholmroyd v Warley WARLEY 168 T Ahmed c Astin b Harris 28 D Oates c Astin b Harris 0 A Oates c Astin b Murgatroyd 40 R Severn b J Russell 60 F Khatana b Murgatroyd 3 H Razzak c Astin b J Russell 0 J Rashid c Harris b J Russell 6 L Senior c T Russell b Murgatroyd 0 C Brennan b Harris 4 J Bridges c Sutcliffe b Bauer 10 R Keywood not out 0 Extras 17 Bowling: N Harris 8 2 22 1, S Harris 9 0 63 2, S Walker 4 0 31 0, J Russell 8 2 32 3, D Murgatroyd 9 3 12 3, M Bauer 1.5 0 2 1. MYTHOLMROYD 69 L Sutcliffe b Keywood 2 S Harris st Bridges b Brennan 6 T Russell b Brennan 6 J Russell b Brennan 9 M Astin lbw Brennan 2 B Burnside b Keywood 0 D Murgatroyd b Senior 10 S Hussain b Brennan 0 S Walker b Senior 17 N Harris b Ahmed 0 M Bauer not out 0 Extras 17 Bowling: R Keywood 9 1 15 2, C Brennan 9 3 19 5, L Senior 3.3 1 8 2, T Ahmed 2 0 11 1.