The Show Must Go On
Another weekend of mixed fortunes as yet again the team playing at home picks up a win, whilst the travelling team returns home empty handed. Both teams are pretty much level pegging in their respective divisions, both have 14 points and are hovering a little above the relegation zone - the 1st team have a 3 point cushion, the 2nd team have 4 points to play with. And both are good enough to be higher up the table, but need to keep a wary eye on those below.
The first team travelled to Embsay, a club that seems to be pretty consistent in performances this season and who proved to be a touch too consistent for Riddlesden on the day. Batting first, Riddlesden began well enough but ended on a slightly disappointing 147 all out. The main source of runs once more was Aftab Khan with 71, aided by contributions from Mohammad Shahnawaz, Mohammed Arshad and Goher Ayoub. Embsay tend to score in the 180 region, and despite an excellent 4-33 off 11 overs from Mohammed Zulfiquar, they proved up to the task and overhauled our score with three wickets remaining.
The second team also batted first, feeling confident after last week's season high score with Dale Pinkerton leading the way with a solid 36. At 105-4 at the halfway stage, a good score was on the cards as long as the batsmen just played the overs out sensibly. Of course that's harder said than done. Akeel Rashid scored a quickfire 29, and after a slight wobble Imran Mehrban and Darren Shields steadied the ship with 18 apiece before Danny Kernan plundered two big sixes to push the final score to 167.
Despite a steady start from Bradford & Bingley, once they lost their third wicket on 60 their resistance crumbled. The bowling was relentless, Imran Mehrban and Akeel Rashid gave very few runs away, Mohammad Qadeer took 3-36 from his 15 overs, but the main destroyer was Dale Pinkerton with a fantastic 6-22 from 7.1 overs. Man of the match performance there Mr Pinkerton with bat and ball I think. I should also mention the fielding - the other week I pointed out that the 2nd team hadn't taken too many catches. On Saturday they took seven. Good fielding!
A special mention needs to be made away from the cricket where there was a special show put on to entertain the crowd, written and performed by Megan; Joel; Janessa; Ellie and Jamie. Not only was this well received by the watching audience (and impressively done, including the making of props and a mini theatre!), but it also raised over £5 for the cricket club. Well done to them all for their ingenuity, effort and creativity!
Finally, next week's fixtures
Home: 1st team vs Bingley Congs 1sts - top of the table but we should have destroyed them earlier in the season if the weather had held
Away: 2nd team vs Bingley Congs 2nds - just below us in the table, let's get an away win and push up from the danger zone!