In a thrilling weekend of cricket in the Bradford Cricket League Division Three, Altofts emerged as the new leaders following an impressive performance by opener Andrew Wood. Wood’s unbeaten knock of 156 led his team to a resounding 115-run victory over Adwalton.
Wood’s innings was nothing short of spectacular, as he smashed seven sixes and 19 fours, propelling Altofts to a formidable total of 285-7. Dominic Richardson contributed 48 runs to the team’s cause, further bolstering their score.
Despite the efforts of Australian bowler Nathan Cant, who took 3-57 for Adwalton, the team faltered and were eventually dismissed for 170. Adwalton’s Matty Waller displayed some resilience with a well-earned 78, but the bowling prowess of Luke Whitmore (3-18) and Saif Tahir (3-62) ensured that Altofts secured a maximum 20 points from the match.
Meanwhile, Scholes faced a heart-wrenching defeat at the hands of Gildersome & Farnley Hill, causing them to drop from first to third place in the league standings. The match went down to the wire, with Gildersome & Farnley Hill clinching a narrow one-run victory.
Muhammad Shah was the star performer for the victorious side, making 39 runs and also taking 4-64 with the ball. Gildersome & Farnley Hill managed to post a competitive total of 187, despite determined bowling efforts from Mahleb Mahmood (5-48) and Hamza Khan (3-54). In response, Scholes’ Jamie Robson (49) and Nick Curtis-Firth (33) fought valiantly, but their team ultimately fell short, being bowled out for 186.
Great Preston made a significant move up the standings, securing second place with a commanding 150-run victory over Brighouse. Oli Baron (70), Hayden Mortimer (66), and Ethan Walker (32) were the chief architects of Great Preston’s dominant performance, propelling their team to a formidable total of 252-7. Brighouse struggled in their chase and were ultimately dismissed for 102, thanks to the efforts of Sam Holmes (4-20) and Chris Aplin (3-23).
Windhill & Daisy Hill staged an impressive comeback to secure an eight-wicket win against East Leeds. Mohammed Waseem (97) and Hassan Malik (57 not out) were instrumental in chasing down East Leeds’ total of 189. James Watling (43) and Wasim Malik (34) top-scored for East Leeds, but the bowling duo of Sajjad Ijaz (5-48) and Shoaib Iqbal (3-66) posed significant challenges.
Crossbank Methodists dominated their clash against Wakefield St Michael’s, securing a convincing 84-run victory. Zaib Ali shone with the ball, claiming an impressive 6-56, supported by Lewis Lockwood (3-11). Wakefield St Michael’s were bowled out for a mere 108, while Crossbank Methodists amassed 192-9, courtesy of captain Gavin Harrison’s 46 and Ali’s 33. Shamsullah Dost (3-28) was the standout bowler for St Michael’s.
With Altofts seizing the top spot, the competition in the Bradford Cricket League Division Three intensifies as teams vie for the coveted title. The upcoming matches promise more exhilarating action as the teams battle it out on the cricket field.
