3:05pm Tuesday 29th July 2008
By Sports Desk
Shipley Providence remain seven points clear at the top of the Dales Council League A Division after taking maximum points over the double weekend.
First they defeated rivals Baildon by seven wickets – with only Phil Hiley (50) resisting in their target of 114 for nine – and then Farsley by six wickets.
Farsley scored 173 for eight, Komal Singh hitting 92, with skipper Scott Sladen taking five for 50. Then Chris Hawksworth struck an unbeaten 57 as the leaders cruised home.
Any hope they had of stretching their lead were dashed when second place Leeds Sikh YMCA also had a perfect weekend, with a six-wicket victory over Farnley Hill followed by an effortless eight-wicket stroll against Crompark, Harcharan Seehra (5-67 and 6-23) being the chief destroyer.
On Sunday, Baildon had to settle for a losing draw, closing on 236 for eight, with 107 from M T Khan, after New Farnley had posted 242 for nine.
Rodley had two comfortable wins over the bottom two to remain in third. First they rolled over Mount by seven wickets, then Gary Walton (63) and Mark Dufton (5-18) helped them to a 121-run win over Hawksworth.
In B Division, Hepworth & Idle regained top slot with a 155-run victory over Esholt followed by a crushing win away at Meanwood. Anthony Heaton crashed 124 with Phil Drake hitting 51 in a huge 300 for seven declared, before Drake returned to take six for 38 as Meanwood were skittled for 71.
Esholt’s miserable weekend continued on Sunday as they fell to a 77-run loss to Leeds Sikh YMCA ‘B’.
Baildon ‘B’ fell out of contention for the title after losses to Pudsey St Lawrence and New Wortley.
Hepworth & Idle ‘B’ demonstrated their dominance of the C Division, beating second-placed Drighlington and winless Cookridge.
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