Blackley field 12th man - but still lose
Halifax League officials have decided that no further action is necessary after Blackley seconds had 12 fielders for part of a match last Saturday. It happened in a Premier Division second team game at SBCI, who went on to win by 152 runs.
League fixture secretary Peter Taylor said Blackley had been ringing around for players at the last minute and hadn’t realised they had one too many.
“The umpire counted the number of players and when he turned around ready for the first ball a young lad ran on,” said Taylor.
“They played 11 overs before they realised Blackley had 12 fielders.”
Taylor said the umpires could have started the match again but it was mutually agreed to carry on.
The apologetic Blackley captain had even suggested SBCI having 12 fielders for their first 11 overs of their reply.
However, SBCI declined that offer and ran out easy winners.
Taylor added: “It was all sorted out in a decent and sporting manner and the league has decided that no action is required.”
Max Gardner was the star man as the Halifax Joe Lumb side started their campaign with a nine-wicket win over York at Mytholmroyd last Sunday.
Max, whose father Andrew and brother Sam are prolific wicket-takers for Northowram Hedge Top, showed he had inherited some of the family’s bowling talent.
He struck with his first ball and took five wickets - all bowled - for 14 runs in seven overs as York subsided quickly.
Tom Fryer, James Stott and Tom Hosker helped polish off York for just 45 on a good wicket.
Halifax lost Jack Leonard for six with the total on 18 before Adam Spendlow (30 no) and Fryer (8 no) saw Halifax to victory.
Halifax, whose first match was washed out, are next in action against Scarborough at Sowerby St Peters on Sunday (1.0).
Bradshaw batsman Connor Ryan returns but the side has lost several members of last year’s team, including Luke Bridges and Toby Thorpe who have moved to clubs in different leagues.