Bradford Cricket League Division One witnessed an action-packed Saturday on July 8, 2023, with leaders Cleckheaton demonstrating their dominance by chasing down a target of 172 runs in a thrilling encounter against East Bierley. The Cleckheaton team secured a two-wicket victory with 26 overs to spare, ensuring they maintained their grip on the top spot.
The dynamic duo of Ethan Lee (29 not out) and James Stansfield (27) provided the necessary impetus for Cleckheaton, enabling their side to secure the triumph with seven balls remaining. Despite Umar Abbas’s commendable efforts, who took three wickets for 45 runs, Cleckheaton’s batting prowess prevailed. Danny Cross played a vital role for East Bierley with a top score of 38, helping his team reach a total of 149 runs for the loss of four wickets in a rain-interrupted innings.
Following Cleckheaton’s triumph, second-placed Undercliffe find themselves eight points adrift after a comfortable seven-wicket win over Carlton. Chasing a modest target of 100 runs in 21 overs, Undercliffe reached the mark with four overs to spare, thanks to George Myers’ unbeaten knock of 32 runs. Carlton had earlier posted a total of 88 runs for the loss of six wickets while batting first.
Morley, sitting in third place, showcased their bowling prowess by dismantling second-bottom team Baildon for a paltry score of 73 runs. The overseas player, Ali Usman, starred with incredible figures of 6 wickets for just 9 runs, while Tinashe Mazonde contributed with three wickets for 23 runs. Morley comfortably chased down the target with eight wickets in hand, with James McNichol remaining unbeaten on 35 runs.
In another encounter, Batley emerged victorious by a comprehensive margin of 92 runs against Birstall. Nasir Jamal and Nasir Totakhil played vital roles in dismissing Birstall for 151 runs. Henry Pearson excelled both with the ball, taking four wickets for 70 runs, and with the bat, scoring 33 runs. Batley had earlier posted a competitive total of 233 runs for the loss of seven wickets, with Kasir Maroof (61), Daanyaal Hussain (56 not out), and Nikash Khan (37) being the main contributors.
Gomersal displayed their bowling prowess as well, with spinner Chris Rhodes leading the charge by claiming five wickets for 41 runs. Gomersal managed to dismiss East Ardsley for 144 runs while chasing a daunting target of 282 runs in 36 overs. Despite Suraj Singh’s impressive figures of 4 wickets for 47 runs, East Ardsley fell short. Gomersal’s strong batting lineup, guided by Graham Hilton (68), Shabir Rashid (52 not out), Fergus McKenna (39), and Richard Wear (36), propelled them to a total of 271 runs for the loss of six wickets.
The clash between the two promoted sides, Yeadon and Sandal, ended prematurely after just 9.4 overs, with Sandal reaching a score of 27 runs for the loss of one wicket. The match was abandoned due to unforeseen circumstances.
