Keighley 236-7

Liversedge 194 all out

KEIGHLEY maintained their top position in Bradford Premier League Championship Two with a comfortable win at bottom-placed Liversedge.

Winning the toss, Keighley skipper Paul Quinlan did not hesitate to bat on a wicket that would more than likely favour the batting line-up.

His decision proved fruitful as Keighley’s normal opening pair of Richard Gould and the returning Luke Chapman steadily constructed another important partnership, passing 50 and then a 100 as they took advantage of good batting conditions.

Both players posted half-centuries until at 135 without loss, Gould unfortunately nicked to the Liversedge wicketkeeper for 61.

Chapman soon followed for 69 but they had once again set their team up to be able to post a large total.

Quinlan looked to achieve the maximum 10 batting points and, despite several more wickets, they easily achieved their target, posting 236-7 in their allotted 50 overs.

Liversedge got off to a smart reply, with openers Mark Hydes (23) and Graeme Winn sharing an unbeaten half-century partnership.

However, once James Rogers had snagged Winn for 36, the Liversedge collapse began.

Despite a late rally from Alan Sumner (32 not out) and Willian Atkin (33), the home team could not cope with the bowling of Quinlan and were dismissed for 194 in the 43rd over. Quinlan, who is having a fabulous season, posted another impressive display of 6-69.

Keighley’s nine-points lead at the top remains the same thanks to rivals Wakefield St Michaels' equally impressive victory against Spen Victoria.

In a most important weekend for the town's club coming up they face Brighouse at Lawkholme this Saturday, which is in conjunction with the club’s annual beer and gin festival.

This is followed by taking on Bowling Old Lane in the Jack Hampshire Cup final on Sunday at Carlton Cricket Club

Meanwhile, Keighley’s second string entertained Liversedge at Lawkholme, knowing that another victory would put them closer to promotion in Championship Two.

Winning the toss, Keighley skipper Alex Towler elected to bat, hoping to build a large score on a good wicket that would put the game beyond the visitors by tea.

Openers Sam Murphy and Ahtasham Raza shared their skipper’s enthusiasm and Murphy, in particular, was in a fearsome mood as he smashed 65 from just 34 deliveries in an opening stand of 74.

Raza took up where Murphy left off until being stumped for 54 off just 49 deliveries.

Murphy and Raza’s aggressiveness was eclipsed, however, by vice-captain Hami Shahzad who after hitting a six on his first ball, brutally compiled 71 from just 32 deliveries, which included five sixes helping his team post 302-8 in their 45 overs.

Liversedge’s reply never really got off the ground and wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

Despite a valiant 48 from Ashraf Karolia, the away side were dismissed for a paltry 109, 193 runs short of their target.

All four Keighley bowlers were among the wickets; Ben Jagger with 2-34, Shahzad 2-24, U15 skipper Raees Hussain with 2-22 and pick of the bowlers Dillon Birkett with 4-25.