The Bradford Cricket League Premier Division witnessed a day filled with excitement and surprising outcomes on Saturday, 8th July 2023. Despite an early spell of rain, the matches showcased thrilling action, shocking results, and captivating finishes.
One of the standout moments occurred at Bennet Lane, where the league’s bottom-ranked team, Hanging Heaton, pulled off a monumental upset by defeating New Farnley with a convincing 85-run margin. This victory dealt a significant blow to New Farnley’s diminishing title aspirations.
Although Hanging Heaton emerged triumphant, they remain rooted at the bottom of the league table. Pudsey Congs played a crucial role in this outcome as they successfully chased down a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) revised target of 233 runs in 42 overs, with one ball to spare.
Hanging Heaton’s second win of the season was highlighted by a stellar performance from spinner Max Chappell, who claimed remarkable figures of 5-13. Chappell’s impressive bowling display led to New Farnley losing their last six wickets for a mere 16 runs, ultimately bundling them out for 116. Only opener Aidan Langley (47) managed to make an impact as the rest of the batting order crumbled while chasing a target of 202 runs in 39 overs.
Contributions from Adam Patel (47), Callum Geldart (33), and James Byrne (30) propelled Hanging Heaton to a total of 200-9, despite the efforts of left-arm spinner Adam Ahmed, who claimed five wickets for 44 runs.
Meanwhile, Pudsey Congs relied on the performances of wicketkeeper Josh Bennett (53 not out), Richard Jubb (50), and Yohan Mendis (31) to secure a thrilling three-wicket victory against Ossett. Ossett had set a target of 227-7, primarily driven by a second-wicket partnership of 154 runs between Matthew Race (97) and Rohan Mehmi (64). Haseen Bashir’s unbeaten 33 also contributed to the Ossett score. Rishi Chopra stood out for Pudsey Congs with excellent figures of 5-41.
Bankfoot continued their upward trajectory by securing their second consecutive win, placing them 18 points clear of the relegation zone. In their latest encounter, Bankfoot overcame Jer Lane by 56 runs, with skipper James Lee leading the way. Lee’s notable contribution included a top-score of 42 during Bankfoot’s innings, followed by a bowling performance of 5-44. Jer Lane’s chase of 188 runs in 33 overs ended when they were bowled out for 131. Cosmond Walters top-scored for Jer Lane with 44 runs.
In a nail-biting finish at Albert Terrace, league leaders Woodlands managed to snatch a one-wicket victory against Pudsey St Lawrence. Woodlands faced a precarious situation, losing five wickets for 26 runs, leaving them struggling at 103-9 while chasing a target of 115 runs in 21 overs. Archie Scott (4-26) and Charlie Parker (3-28) caused some anxiety for Woodlands. However, the last-wicket partnership of Kez Ahmed and Jak Murphy steered the defending champions across the finish line with two balls to spare.
Conor Harvey’s explosive unbeaten knock of 55 runs off just 39 balls propelled second-placed Townville to a comfortable seven-wicket win against Bradford & Bingley. Earlier, skipper Jack Hughes (3-30) played a crucial role in dismissing the visitors for a meagre total.
Unfortunately, the match between Methley and Farsley had to be abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to a storm that left the outfield flooded with puddles.
The Bradford Cricket League Premier Division showcased a day filled with thrilling encounters, unexpected twists, and remarkable performances. The league continues to be a hotbed of excitement, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as the season progresses.
