Cullingworth cruise to victory after Bridgeholme’s innings collapses

Cullingworth cruised to a nine-wicket win in their ENCO Halifax League Second Division home clash with Bridgeholme, writes Paul Whiteley.

The visitors lost their first four wickets for just five runs before Mohammed Basharat (22) and Yasir Mahmood (20) advanced their side to 75 all out. Phil Poole took 4-20.

The home team required only 79 balls to score 78-1,

Johnny Barton (48no) just missing out on a half-century.

Leymoor could muster only 61 all out at Sowerby St Peter’s, with Jack Rice returning figures of 9.1-3-22-7, before Saints eased to 63-1 and 12 points.

Queensbury limped to a close on 123-9 at Stones, with Phil Robbins’ figures of 14-523-5 standing out.

However, the hosts’ reply ran into even more difficulty at 23-6. Tim Hallewell, at number 11, scored a belligerent 30 runs but it was all over at 97 all out. Joshua Baines did the damage with 8-44.

Southowram were the top scorers in the division, with 153-5 at home to Outlane.

The prolific Dean Crossley was back in the groove with 90 not out, taking his grand total of runs to over 6,000. Outlane were never in the hunt and closed on 75 with Neil Eastwood

taking 5-21.

Apart from opener Anees Rawat (47) most of Mount’s batters found the going tough, on their visit to Oakworth, and fell to 134 all out. Tom Fothergill (5-32) and Jack Davison (4-28) were the home bowlers on form.

At 78-3, the hosts were on course for victory but they collapsed, losing the last seven wickets for 49 as Mount scraped home by seven runs.

Old Town’s clash with Bradley & Colnebridge was cancelled due to problems with the drainage work at Boston Hill.

This weekend sees the return of the first round of the knockout competitions to their traditional Sunday slot. There are only two Parish Cup ties that pitch Premier Division ties against each other, with Bradshaw hosting Copley while Shelf Northowram

HT travel to Sowerby Bridge.

Two First Division teams will be more than familiar with each other over the two days as Clayton entertain Low Moor HT on Sunday, a reverse of the league match the previous day.

The Crossley Shield sees the welcome return of a local derby, dating back to 1914, as Greetland make the shor journey to Stainland for their first encounter since 2013.