Playing the Neighbours at Cricket

Mixed fortunes at the weekend as both teams played their respective counterparts from Crossflatts in, for once, dry, sunny and warm conditions (sun cream advised...) The first team fell to defeat away to a very good Crossflatts team who are in with a shout of the title this season. The seconds battled hard to a well deserved, and frankly much needed, win at home putting a little daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.

To the 1st team first. The opening pair for Crossflatts set the pace, with both scoring handsomely resulting in a tough target of 216. Earlier in the season, this scoreline would have been well beyond Riddlesden, but as the year has progressed there's a new found self belief in the team. Even so, after the top six had all fallen without making much of a dent in the target, things looked bleak. But then a fantastic partnership between Zahir Abbas (59) and Mohammed Gulnawaz (60) gave renewed hope. Sadly it wasn't to be, but a great effort all the same.

In contrast, the 2nd team started their innings brightly, reaching a solid 72-2 - Steve Kernan (31) & Imran Kamal (28) - before a mini collapse set in. Fortunately some sensible batting from Mick Cryer and Shehryar Hussain stabilised things and allowed the team to reach 129 - a target that was far more than that which won the first fixture between these two sides earlier in the year. And so it proved, as Crossflatts were dismissed for 107 with good bowling from Akeel Rashid (4-34), Darren Shields (2-15) and Dale Pinkerton (3-14). Though it should be noted that Akeel was withdrawn after some wayward high deliveries - try to bounce it this week...

So, after this round of games, the first team lie third from bottom of the 1st division and could really do with a couple of wins soon. This could prove tricky this week at home to Howarth who are currently third, but if we can have another great partnership anything's possible. The second team has risen to 8th place in the 3rd division, but it's still tight at the bottom! This week they travel to Gargrave who are going well at the moment, but we're getting stronger week by week so here's hoping!

Credit to our opponents who were a pleasant bunch even in defeat. And it was also very nice to see the club so well supported this week by all the fans who came down to watch. And by watch, I refer of course to their drinks, not the cricket! Seriously though, it was a very entertaining day all round.

And finally, congratulations to Ian Brown and Greg Ellis who conquered the Yorkshire Three Peaks on Saturday and barely broke into a sweat. Well done guys.