Last-ball sixes help Booth to rare double
Booth CC notched what could be a unique Foster’s Halifax League double last weekend - their firsts and seconds won by hitting the final deliveries of their matches for six. Robert Cockroft’s firsts needed 15 off the last over to overhaul hosts Thornton’s 293 for six, Rob Laycock’s 134 having given them a chance.
Their last pair were at the crease but Moazzam Ayub was not short of confidence, attempting an audacious ramp shot over the ‘keeper off the first delivery.
He missed that but ran two off the second delivery. The third ball was pulled for six and then he was dropped and added two to the tally.
Ayub missed the fifth ball, leaving five required off the last, which he hit for six over cover, the ball just clearing a fielder on the boundary.
The drama was matched in the reserve string’s home game against Blackley, who totalled 277.
The visitors handed an over to Booth and that proved all important.
Booth entered their extra over needing eight to win. After singles off the first five balls, Gareth Swain was left seeking a boundary. He hit a leg side full toss for six.
Jer Lane maintained their position at the top after beating Blackley by 100 runs.
Openers Chris Shannon and Wayne Cotton laid the foundations with 73 and 92 respectively.
Chasing 272 for eight, Blackley slumped to 86 for six and were all out for 172, Simon Collins finishing with four for 42 and Nasir Chowdrey three for 56.
Third- placed Mytholmroyd had a four wicket success over Southowram after Jack Earle (five for 39) and Amjid Amzam (three for 29) had limited the visitors to 148.
It was a case of steady away for ‘Royd who had Steve Senior top-scoring with 39 while Andy Measey emerged with credit taking four for 30.
Warley had a seven wicket victory over Sowerby Bridge.
Bridge slithered to 94 all out, opener Tim Helliwell (54) watching in vain as wickets tumbled around him, Daniel Syme claiming five for 27. Warley eased home with 46 from Chris Marsh.
Nathan Madden’s 109 was not enough to prevent Triangle going down to a 57-run defeat at the hands of SBCI.
Madden struck 15 boundaries in an attempt to hunt down SBCI’s total of 280 for nine with his 100 coming up in 99 deliveries. Jamie Sykes took five for 55 from his 14 overs.
SBCI’s winning total was built around Simon Wood’s 72 while middle order man Daniel Sykes chipped in with 54.
Queensbury had a 27 run reversal at home to Copley.
Richard Thorpe kept them in check with five for 44, with Tom Watson’s unbeaten 65 in vain in a failed run chase.
Copley had earlier posted 178 with Nick Gomersal’s 42 the top score. Matthew Johnson claimed four for 47. Points: Jer Lane 86, Booth 81, Mytholmroyd 75, SBCI 74, Sowerby Bridge 67, Warley 65, Triangle 64, Copley 63, Blackley 55, Thornton 55, Queensbury 48, Southowram 31.