Northowram Fields 143 all out

Keighley 135 all out

KEIGHLEY’S second string entertained Northowram Fields at Lawkholme Lane in the second round of the Priestley Shield as the game managed to beat the wet weather.

Keighley captain Alex Towler won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Northowram got off to a blistering start with Ben Grech once again being the thorn in Keighley’s side.

Fresh off a century against the Lawkholme Laners in the recent league fixture, he compiled a quick 82 from just 86 deliveries to give the Northowram innings a firm base.

However; with just three wickets down, Towler decided to take pace off the ball and introduced his leg spin options of Ash Robinson and 14-year-old Louis Wilkinson.

This brought immediate dividends as they tore through the remaining Northowram line-up, taking the last seven wickets for just three runs and bowling them out for 143. Robinson finished with 4-24 and Wilkinson 3-19.

Keighley’s reply looked on track at 30 for no wicket; however, bad shot selection and bad luck saw wickets begin to tumble at regular intervals.

Despite a valiant effort from skipper Towler (30), the home side struggled with the Northowram attack, especially Farhan Hussain (4-38).

Despite a plucky last-wicket stand of 25, Keighley were dismissed for 135, nine runs short of victory.