Firth and Sykes sink champs

Lewis Firth and Jamie Sykes played key roles for SBCI as Halifax League champions Jer Lane were beaten for the first time this season yesterday.
Actions from Booth v Blackley, at Booth. Pictured is Booth celebrationActions from Booth v Blackley, at Booth. Pictured is Booth celebration
Actions from Booth v Blackley, at Booth. Pictured is Booth celebration

Number six batsmen Firth hit 67, including five sixes, and was by far the biggest contributor in SBCI’s 154 for nine off 39 overs on a rain-hit Saturday.

He eventually fell to Nasir Chowdrey, who continued his rich vein of form with six for 67.

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It was then Sykes’ turn to exploit the conditions, bettering Chowdrey’s figures by taking seven for 37 as hosts Lane were rolled over for 89 with nobody able to support Simon Collins (31 no).

SBCI were producing the perfect response to a humiliating 231-run thrashing by Warley the previous week.

Warley are only three points behind Jer Lane at the top after a 77 run win at Copley.

After his batting heroics the previous weeks, Chris Dennison took four for 45 but he couldn’t stop Warley totalling 189 for nine with Shazad Hassan making 61 and Luke Duckitt a hard-hit 42 not out.

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Copley were soon 31 for seven in reply but Craig Taylor (45 no) and Freddie Hammond (30) frustrated the visiting attack as Copley finished on 112 for eight.

Sowerby St Peters had eighth-wicket pair Gavin Hayes (38 no) and Matthew Hoyle (35 no) to thank for their three-wicket win at Northowram Hedge Top in the battle of last year’s top two in Division One.

The Rams scored 144 for seven off 30 overs, Chris Conroy top scoring with 45 and Chris Greenwood and Adie Gawthrope sharing the wickets.

Sowerby slipped to 89 for seven but Hayes and Hoyle denied the Rams a first win back in the top flight with some composed batting in a 56-run stand, the visitors wrapping up victory seconds before the heavens opened.

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Booth were once again frustrated by the weather. They restricted Blackley to 142 for six but only got to 24 for one in reply before the elements took hold.

Batting wasn’t easy at Stainland were Thornton’s 131 for nine proved inadequate against Sowerby Bridge, who won by four wickets.

There was no play possible in the game at Mytholmroyd, who were due to host Triangle.

Queensbury missed a chance to go top of Division One when they lost to a Tom Bellfield-inspired Southowram.

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Leaders Bridgeholme’s home game with Old Crossleyans was washed out but Queensbury were unable to cash in, losing by 25 runs.

Bellfield smashed a quick-fire 50 at the end of his side’s innings to help the Rams to 202 for seven and he then ripped out the visitors’ top order with the ball.

There was stiff resistance from Gurdev Singh (81*) but the visitors closed on 177 for eight.

Low Moor posted their first win of the season against Stones. David Mobbs returned to the Ripponden side’s first with 59 not out but the number three batsman ran out of partners with the total on 108, Rob Dowling taking five for 33,

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Moor were not going to let their golden opportunity slip and won by six wickets with the help of 32 from Adam Forbes.

Bradshaw were the only first team to notch a win in Division Two, beating visitors Greetland by six wickets.

Opening bowlers Aaron Buckley and Jack Ryan took three wickets each and the 10-man visitors laboured for almost 40 overs before being all out for 84.

Connor Ryan made 30 in Bradshaw’s successful reply.

There was no play at Cullingworth, Denholme Clough and Old Town while rain prevented a likely good finish at Clayton were Adnan Shaffique hit 83 and Joseph Brown 40 in the hosts’ 188 for nine.

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Visitors Upper Hopton were 121 for three before the heavens opened.

Premier Division: Blackley 142-6, Booth* 24-1 – rain stopped play, pts. 4-4; Mytholmroyd* v Triangle no play, pts.4-4; Northowram Hedge Top 144-7 (Conroy 45, Litjens 33, Greenwood 4-34, Gawthorpe 3-47), Sowerby St Peters* 145-7 (Hayes 38*, Hoyle 35*, Clee 4-76) pts.4-11; SBCI 154-9 (Firth 67, Chowdrey 6-67), Jer Lane* 102-10 (Collins 31*, Sykes 7-37) rain affected, pts. 12-2; Thornton 131-9, Sowerby Bridge* 134-6, pts.11-2; Warley 189-9 (Hassan 61*, Duckitt 42*, Bottomley 41, Dennison 4-45,Rowles 3-15), Copley* 112-8 (Taylor 45*, Hammond 30, Currie 3-48) rain affected pts. 11-3.

Division One: Bridgeholme* v Old Crossleyans, no play pts.4-4; Oxenhope* v Great Horton PC, rain affected no result provided; Southowram* 202-7, Queensbury 177-8 rain affected pts.11-4; Stones 108 (Mobbs 59*, Dowling 5-33), Low Moor* 111-4 (Forbes 32) pts. 2-12.

Division Two: Clayton* 188-9 (Shaffique 83, Brown 40), Upper Hopton 121-3 (Wightman 34, Smeaton 31), rain stopped play pts. 4-4. Cullingworth* v Luddenden Foot no play pts. 4-4; Denholme Clough* v Outlane, no-play pts. 4-4. Greetland* 84-9 (Buckley 3-23, Jack Ryan 3-23), Bradshaw 85-4 (Connor Ryan 30) pts.1-12; Old Town* v Shelf, no play pts. 4-4.