Khan and Gilks head Yeadon's battle charge

On a day when only two games were played in their division of the Bradford League Yeadon made it 16 points out of the last 18 and that was without skipper John Roper.

The holidaying opening bowler left the side in the capable hands of Jon Henry and although his own batting form has not been up to par of late he proved that he has a keen eye for taking an opportunity.

Both the Yeadon and Windhill players battled hard to get the game on after pouring rain left them kicking their heels for a while.

Windhill had suffered a massive blow with their talented 19 year-old all-rounder Shahid Yousuf having had to return home for training with the Pakistan Under-21 squad.

It was a blow they were unable to recover from missing the man who has already scored 440 league runs and taken 25 wickets.

Yeadon on the other hand are used to punishing blows this season and with Roper away they took it all in their stride.

Tony Gilks played a massive role for his team when he opened the bowling and bowled unchanged for 14 overs bagging a crucial 5-58.

Gilks was at one stage feared in the Bradford League's top echelons as a pace bowler with Farsley but since returning to his home club he has been reduced to bowling a few overs of spin due to knee problems.

He was settling for a place in the second team but he has answered the call from his club and in recent weeks has provided vital runs.

This week with Roper away and the side having its bowling limitations with Jon Henry still suffering from a knee injury and Khan also struggling with his knee it was left to Gilks to shoulder the burden.

And shoulder it he did paving the way for his side's success.

His early victims included former Yeadon colleague Darren Drake who like his opening partner Simon Curry fell for 16.

Prolific wicket taker Chris Henry was kept out of the picture by Gilks but in the trying conditions he too pegged away.

The sides were reduced to 28 overs each and at the end of their allocation Windhill had made 133-7.

Paul Mosey held the Windhill innings together with a fine 54 not out but he was to be outshone by the committed Naeem Khan.

The rain came down steadily as the Windhill innings ended and a further eight overs were deducted leaving Yeadon with just 20 overs to gain victory.

Jon Henry shuffled his pack and promoted Khan to open in an inspired move. Henry himself went for four falling to the cousin combination of caught Skillicorn bowled Drake.

Khan however took charge and blasted 3 sixes and 5 fours in his unbeaten 68 with Chris Henry in support to bring a superb victory with two overs to spare.

Chris Henry finished on 24 not out and Jon Carey had also played his part with a vital 25.

With 13 overs to go Yeadon had still required 100 to win but Khan kept his cool and produced a cameo knock that will likely become one of the highlights of the season.

Jon Henry said: "It was a fantastic win. It was a case of going for the six points, we weren't interested in one. We were struggling earlier in the season but it has been very encouraging to take 16 points out of the last 18 available and we just need to press on from here."

In the only other game played in Division Two on Saturday Esholt climbed into the promotion race with an eight wickets win over Hartshead Moor.

They now lie in third place just four points behind leaders Brighouse.

Hartshead posted a score of 151-8 in 42 overs.

Jason Wilkinson (38) and Viveck Mahajan (63 no) then put on 73 for the second wicket to steer Esholt to victory in 27 overs.

Richard Whitehurst then joined the Indian runmaker and made 36 not out in an unbroken third wicket stand of 65.

Mahajan scored 1,155 runs for Esholt last season and has remained loyal to the Esholt Lane club returning to spearhead their bid for promotion.

Horsforth brothers Matthew and Andrew Doidge will be in opposition in the Bradford League's Priestley Cup semi-finals. Matthew captains Pudsey Congs who will face Pudsey St Lawrence, captained by Andrew, on Sunday, July 11.