Challengers to champs Lane in short supply
Jer Lane have reached the half-way point of the Foster’s Halifax League season with an 11-point lead in their pursuit of a third successive crown. Lane won by 17 runs at Sowerby Bridge last Saturday on the back of a powerful batting display, and potential rivals are hardly queueing up to challenge with the second and third-placed sides, Booth and Mytholmroyd, beaten again.
The leaders’ first three batsmen, Chris Shannon (54), Wayne Cotton (50) and Raqeeb Younas (67), laid solid foundations at Walton Street.
Lane totalled 271 for seven and that was enough with Shannon (six for 76) completing a fine afternoon’s work, his victims including reliable opener Tim Helliwell for 87.
Booth, likely to be without league side all-rounder Richard Laycock for a few weeks due to a broken wrist, had a six-wicket defeat at Warley.
Booth were 86 for five until Nigel Horsfall produced a typical lower-order assault, his 82 in company with skipper Robert Cockroft (40 no) helping the visitors to 239 for nine.
The game was in the balance with Warley 104 for four but Shazad Hassan hit 110 not out while Graham Kinsey made 38 not out.
Mytholmroyd lost by the same margin at home to Copley. Last year’s Parish Cup final man of the match Oliver Thorpe took five for 57 and Mark Baldwin four for 44 to dismiss ’Royd for 198, Luke Sutcliffe top scoring with 57.
A second-wicket stand of 99 between Mohammed Seraj (78) and Rishikesh Bhuskute (59) put Copley on the way to victory and although both were run out, Nick Gomersal (43 no) completed the task.
SBCI are only three points behind the Calder Valley pair after a three-wicket win in a high-scoring game at Blackley.
Reece Jennison (66) and Macauley Shiel (51 no) left SBCI chasing 269 for victory but they were up to the task with 85 from young opener George Hampshire and strong backing from Chris Dalby (52) and Tom Wood (49).
Chris White took five for 99 for the hosts while Jamie Sykes also bowled through for the visitors and was hit for less than three figures.
The Premier’s most exciting game was at Triangle where the home side’s experienced last pair Dave Turner (17 no) and Richard Turner (4 no) saw their side to a victory target of 226 against Queensbury.
Jamie Priestley had given the visitors’ innings some backbone with 92 and he was ninth out on 211. Scott Osbourne made 49.
Triangle were cruising at 177 for three with Christian Silkstone (91) in full flow again but both he and Dan Crosland (54) fell to Umaid Sajjad.
Spinner Amjad Ali then bowled eight maidens in a row and took three wickets but Triangle scrambled home.
Southowram’s hopes of a much-needed win soared when Tom Belfield and Gavin Moody took three wickets each to reduce hosts Thornton to 39 for six chasing the Rams’ modest 158. However, their hopes were dashed by the two Rosses – Soames (84 no) and Parr (35 no). Points: Jer Lane 102, Booth 91, Mytholmroyd 91, SBCI 88, Copley 86, Sowerby Bridge 84, Warley 80, Triangle 79, Thornton 78, Queensbury 65, Blackley 63, Southowram 46.