Play Ball!

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a game called cricket. Back in those days, a match was played every Saturday throughout summer and all was good. But then the dark days of July and August came and those halcyon days were lost. Until now...

Yes, after three rained off games in a row, we finally managed to get some cricket this week. Not at home unfortunately - Eldwick lost out to a waterlogged pitch yet again - but Riddlesden travelled to sunny Bradley where their witch doctors had worked miracles.

Having lost the toss and been asked to bat first on an apparently very damp pitch, Riddlesden began strongly with both Steve and Qaddy batting well. Having put on 39 runs the opening partnership was broken as Steve fell to his nemesis Vince Grant, but Qaddy continued imperiously until he was finally out two short of his half century. Other than a quick captain's innings of 24 from Gully, there wasn't much else to shout about as we were dismissed for 133 with 7 overs remaining. Possibly a little low, though the pitch was tricky.

Such thoughts proved unfounded as the game became the Zain and Qaddy show. First Zain dismissed both openers for just 5 runs, then Qaddy joined in with a brace before Zain mopped up the rest alongside a run out from Danny. Finishing with 7 wickets (for just 21 runs!) Zain tore Bradley apart and ensured they finished a distant second place all out for 57, and got his name on the weekly Yorkshire district honours board to boot! Don't feel too bad for Bradley - they won the Cowling Cup the next day.

On to this weekend, when the sun promises to shine. It's something of a double header as we travel to Hepworth & Idle to face their second team, whilst their 1st team travel to our ground to play Eldwick & Gilstead! Meanwhile, I travel to Headingley to watch England vs. Australia. I have no idea which of these three will have the most entertaining cricket - if you want to suggest your own theories, let us know...