Keighley 24 all out

East Bierley 28-1

KEIGHLEY’S last game of the 2019 season saw them travel to East Bierley, comfortably placed in the middle of All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship One.

Keighley skipper Paul Quinlan won the toss and elected to bat first on a good-looking track against a team that had to win to avoid relegation.

What happened next, though, was nothing short of a disaster for the Lawkholme Laners as they were bowled out for just 24 in only the 10th over.

Not one Keighley batter hit double figures with six being bowled and a bizarre run out.

Rizwan Ali was the main East Bierley wicket-taker with 5-8; he was backed up by Umar Farooq, who took 4-14.

Defending such a low total is virtually always impossible and, despite James Rogers taking a wicket in only the second ball, the home side cantered to a nine-wicket victory in the sixth over.

The defeat sees Keighley finish eighth, in a season marred by abandoned games due to the poor summer weather.

Considering their promotion last season, this is a satisfactory end result for the Lawkholme Laners.

Keighley plan to bring in several new faces in the close season in order to strengthen the squad and push further in 2020.

Meanwhile, Keighley’s second team entertained Farsley in their last game of their 2019 season.

With both teams safely ensconced in the Championship division, Keighley skipper Alex Towler lost the toss and was asked to field first.

Knowing his team was safe, Towler decided to mix the bowling order up, giving several potential starlets a go.

This did not stop Farsley putting 50 on for the first wicket, but once this partnership was broken, wickets then started to fall at regular intervals.

Towler used eight bowlers and none took their chance more than 12-year-old Mohammed Abbas.

The left-arm spinner, a product of Yorkshire’s academy, did not look fazed in the slightest with his promotion from the third team as he bowled superbly against much senior players, finishing with 4-44 as Farsley were finally bowled out for 140 in the 41st over. Jack Rogers and Harry Barker each chipped in with two wickets, Jamie Blackburn top scored for Farsley with 50.

In reply, skipper Towler also decided to juggle his batting order.

This looked at bad decision as Farsley bowler Richard Sutcliffe (6-13) destroyed the top and middle order.

At 43-8, Keighley looked down and out; however, this brought to the crease Abbas and former skipper Rory Robinson.

Abbas dug in against good line and length bowling, showing good technical batting skills.

Robinson was in particular brutal mood, though, as he smashed the Farsley bowlers to all parts of the ground. The pair put on 85 and looked as if they would get the home side over the line until Robinson sadly holed out in the deep for 58 off just 56 deliveries. The final wicket fell three balls later, leaving Abbas on 25 not out and Keighley 11 runs short of their target.

The seconds finish 10th in the Championship, they were able to consolidate their place in the league after promotion the previous season.