In a thrilling encounter on Saturday, 1st July 2023, Augustinians, the surprise package of the season, secured a hard-fought one-wicket win over joint leaders Sowerby St Peter’s in the Halifax Cricket League Second Division. Augustinians now find themselves in second place, just five points behind the top spot.
The match witnessed an exceptional bowling performance by Augustinians’ Yasir Arfat, who claimed four crucial wickets for just 34 runs in his spell of 14 overs. Sowerby St Peter’s struggled to gain momentum and could only muster a below-par total of 131 runs before being bowled out. None of their batsmen managed to surpass the twenties mark, leaving their team disappointed and scratching their heads.
In response, Augustinians faced a challenging task, with only five of their players reaching double figures. However, their collective effort proved to be enough as they scraped past the finish line at 134 for the loss of nine wickets. The final wicket partnership, which remained undefeated and added 25 runs, played a crucial role in Augustinians’ victory. Jack Leonard was instrumental with the ball for Sowerby St Peter’s, taking four wickets for 41 runs.
In another match of the division, Bridgeholme endured a disastrous start against visitors Breadley & Colnebridge. The top five batsmen of Bridgeholme were quickly dismissed, contributing a mere 16 runs to the team’s total. However, a remarkable recovery ensued as Muhammad Maqsood (84) and Tuffique Butt (43) led the charge, propelling Bridgeholme’s score from 47 for five wickets to a commendable 180 for six wickets. Shahid Khan was the chief destroyer for Breadley & Colnebridge, finishing with impressive figures of 6-61. Ultimately, Bridgeholme secured maximum points with an 89-run victory, bowling out their opponents for just 94 runs.
Cullingworth, the joint leaders of the division, displayed dominance over Outlane in their encounter. Opting to bat first, Outlane found themselves bundled out for a paltry 89 runs in just 25.4 overs. James Bloodworth was the tormentor-in-chief, registering excellent figures of 6-41 from his 13 overs. In response, Cullingworth wasted no time in chasing down the target, reaching a winning score of 92 for the loss of four wickets in less than 21 overs. Richard Elphee played a pivotal role in the victory with an unbeaten knock of 53.
Leymoor hosted Stones in a rain-affected match that was reduced to 41 overs per team. Richard Walkden (72) and Glenn Barnard (67) delivered impressive performances, guiding Leymoor to a competitive total of 226 for eight wickets. Elicia Pollard starred with the ball for Stones, claiming four wickets for just 25 runs. However, the visitors struggled to mount a significant challenge in their run chase. Despite Gary Hulme’s solid innings of 60 runs, Stones lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 122 runs in the 28th over. Jack Earnshaw and Dominik Moorhouse were the architects of Stones’ downfall, sharing nine wickets between them.
In a low-scoring affair, Oakworth managed to post 165 for eight wickets in their home clash against Queensbury. Jack Davison top-scored with a well-constructed 50. Darren Jack was the standout bowler for Queensbury, claiming a career-best five-wicket haul for 48 runs. In reply, Queensbury faltered and failed to gain momentum throughout their innings. Apart from Oliver Challis’ contribution of 27 runs, the rest of the batting lineup struggled, resulting in their collapse for a mere 61 runs. Jake Keslinke was the pick of the bowlers for Oakworth, taking four wickets for 26 runs.
At Old Town, the home team set a target of 197 runs for Upper Hopton. Zulfiqar Ahmed (64) and Sagher Shaheen (44) led the charge with the bat for Old Town, while Thomas Wilson impressed with the ball, picking up four wickets for 31 runs. Upper Hopton faced a challenging chase and struggled to find partnerships. They were eventually bowled out for 113 runs in the 38th over. Usaman Ali (40) and Joe Manning (31) were the main contributors for Upper Hopton, while Old Town utilised a collective effort from their bowlers, with five different players sharing the wickets.
The Halifax Cricket League Second Division matches showcased a day filled with gripping encounters and standout performances from both bowlers and batsmen. The league table witnessed a reshuffle as Augustinians moved closer to the top spot, promising an exciting remainder of the season for cricket enthusiasts.
