Elsecar: the giant awakes....
STAFFORCE SOUTH YORKSHIRE CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Whitley Hall 83 Elsecar 85-1
IT MAY have taken half a season to happen but Elsecar finally showed the form and threat that led them to the league title last season as they demolished free-scoring Whitley Hall at Baxter Field.
Whitley have shown excellent form with the bat this season but meeting the Elsecar attack threw all that out of the window as Manaj Chanaka and 17-year-old Nathan Musslewhite set about terrorising them.
Chanaka's recent arrival has given Elsecar a much needed shot in the arm and they will rue the fact the Sri Lankan was not on board for their stuttering start to the campaign.
Both Whitley openers were gone with just 20 runs scored, and Ainsley Swallow joined the attack to craft a middle order collapse with his
pace and accuracy. Swallow captured five wickets for the loss of just eight runs in a nine over spell that featured six maidens.
Whitley danger man Donovan Koch fell to Swallow with his score on 27 as his side fell for just 83. Chanaka took 3-35 as his good start to life at Armroyd Lane continued.
Elsecar needed just 16.5 overs and one wicket to secure victory. Jason Meadows delivered another superb knock with eight fours in his unbeaten 40 while Ian Swallow had reached 26 by the close.
Tickhill 172-8 Wath 174-7
A GLORIOUS chance to claw some points back in the title chase went begging for Wath as they failed to bowl out an improving Tickhill side at Alderson Drive.
Leaders Treeton could not dismiss Houghton Main elsewhere which left Wath with a golden opportunity to get within touching distance of the juggernaut table toppers but great resolution from the hosts ensured only an incomplete win was taken back to Moor Road.
Gayan Fernando was once again causing trouble in the Wath whites as he had Tickhill slumping to 22-3 but the latest acquisition to the Alderson Drive cause – Ibrar Qadoos from Appleby Frodingham – painstakingly built up the innings with 63 in 133 balls. Qadoos added 50 for the fourth wicket with Ashley Fiddler and 66 for the sixth wicket with Kashif Raza who went on to make 44.
After Fernando's early impact, Wath were unable to complete the job as Tickhill closed on 172-8 though the Sri Lankan took 4-60.
Wath's first two wickets were gone by the time they had 33 on the board but opener James Barnard stayed strong to push them into command with a fine 37 while Steve Reynolds added 41 and the ever-reliable Lesroy Weekes produced 39 to take them within sight of victory. The total was passed with six overs to go and seven wickets gone as Raza took 3-40 and Chris Jevons 3-63.
Houghton Main 147-9 Treeton 150-3
THE THREAT of relegation still hangs over Houghton Main who cannot seem to push themselves over the line but they produced a resolute performance to frustrate title favourites Treeton at Middlecliffe.
Houghton looked set for a short stay in the centre as they staggered from a frightening 22-4 to a not quite better 54-5.
But Treeton did not account for Rich Jones who produced one of his thrilling knocks to steady the ship.
Jones approached each innings in the manner of a 20-20 contest and did not disappoint this time around with seven sixes and two fours as he raced to 63 in just 51 balls.
When Jones departed Houghton were at 98-6 and the remaining order ensured a tricky total for Treeton to overcome as the innings was lifted to 147-9 by the close. Stephen Foster took 3-28 for Treeton, who could not remove the last man.
Star performer Andrew Tomlinson produced a great show for Treeton as he stayed in full control from the outset to knock and unbeaten 111 in his side's 150-3. Tomlinson found the boundary 17 times and took just 96 balls for his remarkable achievement that carried his side home comfortably.
Darfield 182-9 Rotherham Phoenix 220-3
A FIRST earned point and a much improved performance brightened up the grey skies that have hung over Darfield throughout this season, but their relegation woes were not eased much as they slipped to another defeat to Rotherham Phoenix.
Haidar Jahangir and Amir Riaz compiled an opening stand of 77 for Phoenix until the latter departed with a 33 run haul. Jahangir stayed until he reached 89 while Asadullah Butt produced an unbeaten 58 as Phoenix made a very healthy 220-3.
Darfield looked set for a crushing defeat at 69-4 but Craig Pickerill and Jon Parkin helped them get on the right track to make a go of the target.
The pair added 86 for the fifth wicket with Pickerill hitting 41 and Parkin 46. The last pairing held on at 182-9 to secure a precious point.
Other results: Barnsley 130 Hallam 197; Wickersley OV 273-7 Collegiate 205.DIVISION ONE
Norton Oakes 154 Rockingham 156-8
A TEN point gap now separates Rockingham from the chasing pack as they took a further step towards promotion with a steady win over Norton Oakes at Oakes Park.
Norton looked to be building a useful innings at 117-1 but Liam Johnson's departure on 38 sparked a flurry of wickets with Andy Firth heading off with 55 while the side collapsed to 123-7.
Andy Moore crafted the disaster with an analysis of 6-39 but Norton rallied to reach 154 all out.
Rockingham were made to fight for the win after Gary Bailey had set them going with 42. Half the team were joining the opener in the pavilion with just 99 runs on the board, but Richard Skipworth guided them home with an unbeaten 24 while Lal Faraz took 3-33 for Norton.
Aston Hall 213-7 Mexborough 166-7
MEXBOROUGH'S promotion hopes took a hit as they were comfortably beaten by fellow top flight chasers Aston Hall at Green Lane.
Carl Tiler put on 33 and Scott Jones 37 to build a platform for Aston while Rob Ward's half ton and an unbeaten 46 from Tim Shaw helped them up to 213-7.
It took the fall of the sixth wicket for Mexborough to truly gain momentum with the bat as Ryan Tingle hit 46 while John Chantry supported with 31no but the early damage took its toll and they could only reach 166-7 with Jones taking 3-17 for Aston.
Elsecar B 237-9 Doncaster Town B 237-8
A DRAMATIC high scoring tie for Elsecar gave them hope of avoiding relegation as they slugged it out with Doncaster Town Seconds.
Opener Mark Gee hit nine fours and a six in a good 67 as Elsecar started well with Chris Pedler adding 46, Mark Kingston 52 and Charlie Johnson 32 to push the hosts up to 195-3. They struggled from this point before eventually closing 237-9 with Jonathan Redfern taking 5-70 and Nicholas Morley 3-15.
The Doncaster reply struggled from 47-3 to 88-5 as they looked on course for a crushing defeat. But Morley joined Rhys Mann in the centre to add a superb 91 that certainly aided their cause. Morley departed with 42 under his belt while Mann contributed 67. Defeat still looked likely at 195-8 but an unbeaten 24 from Danny Leach and 18 from Joe Horrocks took them to the brink of victory that they could not pass and finished on 237-8.
Other results: Norton Woodseats 245-3 Wickersley OV B 191; Thorncliffe 226 for 7 Shiregreen 225-9; Whiston 98 Bradfield 189-5.
DIVISION TWO
Wath B 218-5 Tickhill B 165-8
A SUPERB recovery helped Wath Seconds boost their promotion campaign and pile the pressure on relegation threatened Tickhill at Moor Road.
After staring down a tough path ahead at 29-2 Wath recovered to 218-5 at the close with Shawn Hopkins hitting 34, Rob Hyner 41 and Andy Bell unbeaten on 50.
Tickhill never really touched the required run rate and the innings closed well short on 165-8 as opener Dave Spencer top scored with 30 while Colin Vickers took 4-30 for Wath.
Other results: Collegiate C 96 Maltby 97-3; Coal Aston 176-9 Whitley Hall B 113; Treeton B 172-1 Sheffield United B 170; Oughtibridge 144-7 Rossington 146-1; Rotherham Town B 166-8 Warmsworth 165.
DIVISION THREE
Dearne 120 Bradfield B 123-4
DEARNE'S promotion hopes took a major hit as they were lost by six wickets to Bradfield Seconds. Andy Whaley and Jonathan Scaife added 52 for the second wicket when the latter departed on 30. Whaley stayed until he reached 59 and the Dearne total was at 99-5.
There was little support in the ranks and Dearne were all done for 120 as Phil Clarke took 4-10 and Andy Storrs 3-38 for Bradfield. Daniel Costello top scored with an unbeaten 27 as Bradfield coasted to
victory.
Rotherham Phoenix B 81 Parkgate 146
JON Dimler took a phenomenal eight wickets as Parkgate boosted their chances of survival with a comfortable win over Phoenix Seconds at Brinsworth that pulled the hosts deep into the danger zone.
Lee Conway produced a swashbuckling 38 for Parkgate supported by 32 from Ian Patterson as they added an excellent 73 haul for the fourth wicket. Parkgate posted a total of 146 all out as Gul Faraz took 3-21 for Phoenix.
Dimler had a day to remember for Parkgate as he claimed 8-32 in 14 overs to help craft a Phoenix collapse to 81 all out, well short of the target.
Other results: Worsbrough 120-4 Frecheville 119.DIVISION FOUR
EAST CONFERENCE
Rockingham B 120-9 Barnsley 3rd XI 91
THE RACE for promotion from the Division Four hotted up as Rockingham Seconds leapfrogged Barnsley Third to top the Eastern Conference after a less than convincing win at Hoyland Common.
With only one guaranteed promotion spot from each conference, there may be no prizes for second best and Rockingham ensured their pole position with a win over their promotion rivals despite only producing 120-9 from their 46 overs. James Doran opened with 30 but 16-year-old Waqas Ali took 5-12 in 12 overs as Barnsley held their hosts down.
Looking set for victory before they walked out, Barnsley found themselves locked in a different story in the centre as Martyn Hewitt took 3-21 and 14-year-old Tom McInnerney 4-19 to have them all done for just 91.
Mexborough B 201-9 Worsbrough B 200-4
READY to snap up a minimum of that second spot is Mexborough Seconds picked up a valuable win over struggling Worsbrough whose youth policy is starting to bear fruit as 18-year-old Danny Osborne hit an unbeaten 5* and 17-year-old Ross Levesley was stumped on 83 as Worsbrough posted a fine 200-4.
The Mexborough innings came to life when Shaquile Hussein hit 39 and Zaire Khalil supported with 35. In a tense climax the final pair – father and son duo Steven and Callum Honeyman – clung on to claim the Mexborough win. Dad Steve hit 11 while 13-year-old son Callum produced 20.
Doncaster Town C 169-9 Houghton Main 168
HOUGHTON Main failed to put themselves in prime position for an assault on the promotion spots as they slipped to defeat to a Doncaster Thirds side who could yet grab their ticket to Division Three.
Jack Parkinson cemented his status as a star in the making for Houghton as he blasted his way to 101 to put them in good position for the win.
The 17-year-old arrived in the centre with Houghton on 39-5, found support at 81-9 and added 87 with partner Richard Fox who was still standing at the close with one not out.
Jimmy Deans took 4-22 for Doncaster who replied well through Matthew Head's 41 while the last pair hit an unbeaten 24 runs to seal
victory. Gary Bright and Tan Pirabakaran shared the wickets for Houghton.
Warmsworth B 128 Dearne B 170-8
DEARNE picked up an excellent win over Warmsworth to pull themselves away from the foot of the conference.
Jonathan Millward hit 56 and together with skipper Nick Petty, he added 71 for the fifth wicket. Mark Chichester took 4-28 and Michael Wolsey 4-44 for Warmsworth.
In reply Warmsworth struggled against the accurate bowling of Timothy Langley who finished with 5-51 as the hosts were dismissed for 128. Rajinder Kundra top scored for them with 32.
WEST CONFERENCE
Results: Maltby B 156-9 Norton Oakes B 158-6; Rotherham Town C 120-7 Whiston B 209-4; Frecheville B 194-7 Coal Aston B 198-6.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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