Southowram witnessed a spectacular display of batting prowess as Dean Crossley continued his remarkable form by scoring yet another century, this time amassing an impressive 135 runs against Warley in the Halifax Cricket League First Division. Crossley’s exceptional innings was complemented by Scott Moody, who contributed 54 runs, as the duo shared a second-wicket partnership of 162 runs. The Southowram Rams concluded their innings on a formidable 244-4.
However, Warley, determined to make an instant return to the top flight, put on a remarkable batting display with only three batters required to seal victory. Matthew Whitworth remained unbeaten on 89, Toby Cliff contributed 77 not out, and Christopher Marsh added 58 runs, showcasing their team’s desire to regain their spot at the pinnacle of the league. Their commanding performance resulted in a resounding win, reaching a total of 248-1 in the 37th over.
In another thrilling encounter, Shelf Northowram HT visited Clayton, who had set a target of 201-9. Connor Ambler top-scored for Clayton with a solid 62, supported by six other batters who reached double figures. Gurdev Singh was the standout bowler for Shelf Northowram HT, taking 4-46. However, the batting lineup of Hedge Top struggled to find their rhythm throughout the innings, with no batter managing to surpass 40 runs. Clayton’s bowlers dominated the match, particularly Matthew Roe, who claimed 4-30, and Mitesh Mistry, who picked up 4-50. As a result, Hedge Top fell to 178 all out, losing ground and valuable points in the race for the top spot in the division.
Low Moor HT hosted Great Horton PC but failed to capitalise on a favorable track. Disappointingly, not a single batter managed to reach the 20-run mark, resulting in an all-out score of 109. Zafar Anwar was the standout bowler for Great Horton PC, taking an impressive 4-24. In response, Great Horton’s innings was dominated by Robert Bavington, who scored 49 runs, and Fahad Shabbir, who added 43 runs. They spearheaded their team’s pursuit of victory, eventually reaching 113-5 to secure a well-deserved win.
Mount faced a challenging encounter against Greetland, with the visitors emerging victorious after a commendable performance. Greetland’s bowlers were pleased with their efforts as they dismissed the hosts for 154 all out. Mount had reached a promising 103-2 at one stage, but their last eight wickets fell for a mere 51 runs. Top-scorer Mahmad Kayat contributed 47 runs before becoming one of the dismissals. Muhammad Asif was the chief architect of Mount’s collapse, claiming an impressive 5-38. In their pursuit of victory, Greetland encountered difficulties, but a collective effort from their batters ensured a winning total of 155-8. The unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 42 runs between Waqas Ali (25 not out) and Junaid Ali (7 not out) proved to be crucial in securing the triumph.
With the Halifax Cricket League First Division witnessing intense competition, each team strives to make its mark and maintain its position in the race for glory. The upcoming matches promise more thrilling encounters as the battle for supremacy continues.
