Great Escape keeps Woodlands on course

12:41pm Monday 30th June 2008

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A gutsy unbeaten century partnership from Nicky Rushworth and Tim Orrell kept Woodlands’ treble hopes alive after they were in danger of heading for a shock Priestley Cup exit at home to Bradford & Bingley.

The hosts thought they had done the hard part by restricting the visitors to 127 all out in the second-round tie but then found themselves reeling at 24 for five.

But Rushworth (49no) and Orrell (38no) put on 104 to put Woodlands into the quarter-finals and maintain their JCT 600 Bradford League double ambitions.

Skipper Orrell, whose side are also bidding to retain the Black Sheep Champions Trophy, said: “I must admit we felt we’d done pretty well to keep them to 127 after they’d made a good start and the wicket was playing reasonably well.

“But then Richard McCarthy had something to say about that.”

The veteran seamer continued his superb season by taking four for six off ten miserly overs.

Orrell added: “It was cracking knock from ‘Rushy’ and I held up the other end. I don’t think we’ve ever played as slow in our lives but it was what required.”

The pair batted for over 30 overs together but still had just over six left when they reached their target.

Earlier, Carl Sharp showed similar application in carrying his bat for 52 but, once Phil Slater was out for 33 with the score on 65 for one, no other Bingley batsman reached double figures.

Orrell said: “Carl Sharp batted very well and full credit to Bingley. They showed a lot of fight and work as a team like we do.”

Holders Pudsey Congs had all-rounder Glenn Roberts to thank for their 74-run win at Yeadon.

Roberts made 40 as Congs recovered from a poor start to make 169 for nine and then took three for 22 as Yeadon were dismissed for 95.

Last year’s beaten finalists Cleckheaton also had a few anxious moments before beating Division Two’s bottom team Hartshead Moor by 79 runs.

Cleckheaton’s early batting failed, but Craig Thornton (56no) and Rhys Jowett (40) led a recovery which enabled them to reach a challenging 183 for eight before Hartshead Moor were bowled out for 104, Craig Wiseman taking two for 15.

East Bierley clinched their place in the last eight with a 101-run win at Baildon.

Skipper Gavin Hamilton made 54 and Andrew Rennison 37 as they posted a score of 256 for eight against the hosts who were without their three injured seam bowlers Craig Hitchenor, Stuart Lemon and Andy Walker.

Baildon were dismissed for 155 with Kez Ahmed taking four for 11 and Durham paceman Mitch Claydon three for 36.

Saltaire saw off the challenge of Division Two promotion chasers Idle at home by 82 runs.

The hosts made 170 for seven, with teenage batsman Tom Slater making 41 and overseas player Rahul Kanwat 34.

Idle were bowled out for just 88 in reply, as Kanwat also performed with the ball in taking three for nine. Tim Linley also impressed with three for 22.

Esholt clinched their place in the last eight with a four-wicket win at Morley. The visitors dismissed their rivals for 93 as Gulsheraz Ahmed enjoyed figures of four for 17 and Shazaib Khan took four for 26.

Nathan Bromby (3-33) and new signing from Altofts, Richard Barber (3-30), ensured Esholt did not have it all their own way in reply but they reached their their victory target with four wickets to spare.

Manningham Mills are also in the quarter-finals after a 36-run win at Great Horton.

Mills overseas player Qaiser Abbas (56), Wajjid Hussain (36) and Nissar Jamal (36) helped them to a total of 194 for nine as Moin Ashraf took five for 24.

In reply, Great Horton made 158 all out with Ziafat Ashraf (44) and Moin Ashraf (32) being the top scorers. Nassar Jamal (4-32) and Amjid Khan (3-27) took the plaudits for Mills with the ball.

The tie between Farsley and Bowling Old Lane will be the subject of a management board inquiry after it was abandoned with Farsley 62 for two in reply to Old Lane’s score of 120.