THE pride of the Craven League took on top stars from the Bradford Central League to raise money for Manorlands.

In the third playing of the Manorlands Plate competition the Craven side won the toss and decided to bat first, but scored only 15 in the first 10 overs when skipper Neil andrews was out for seven.

Paul Wilkinson (Bradley) and Michael Scarborough set out to retrieve the situation, but continued in cautious mood. At the half way stage they had reached 54-2, and progressed. They crawled up to 87-2 at the start of the 25th over, but Scarborough then unleashed three successive sixes to open the flood gates. He reached his 50 in only 36 balls and was finally out for 65 with the pair having put on 101 for the third wicket. Wilkinson followed one run later for 26.

Paul Dinkall (U Wharfedale and Andrew Townsend (Pendle Forest) took the score to 153-6 and two younger members of the team, Lee Bilbrough (Haworth WE) and David Holt (Thornton) put together a splendid 49 run partnership.

The innings closed on 205-7 with Bilbrough 30no, which included two huge sixes.

The Bradford Central innings also started cautiously, but it took Townsend to break the solid opening partnership. Opener Andy Hutchinson went on to score 46 and with the total on 92-4 at the end of the 22nd over the game was delicately poised.

Hird and wicket keeper Powis put together an enterprising 50 for the fifth wicket with Hird reaching 34. Young A Parker took up the cudgel and attacked the bowling leaving them needing 26 to win off the last four overs with two wickets standing.

Robinson and Scarborough restricted them to 18 runs giving the Craven League a seven-run victory to retain the Plate.

Main aim of the event was to raise money for Manorlands Hospice, and although overcast weather kept the support down, the event raised just over £200.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.