At the crease: Latest club cricket news from around Yorkshire

Woodlands off to a flier

Woodlands, going for a fourth consecutive Bradford Premier League title, won at home to Farsley by eight wickets, as the season got underway.

Spin dominated as Kez Ahmed (4-23) and Brad Schmulian (3-45) took centre stage before captain Tim Jackson’s unbeaten 54 and Schmulian (58 not out) claimed the win.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Bradford & Bingley, Jer Lane, Methley, Pudsey St Lawrence and New Farnley.

(📸 Photo below is by Ray Spencer of Alex Lilley batting. Lilley, New Farnley’s captain got 4-27 with the ball against Townville before a match-winning 54 not out.)

Progress (kinda) in the Village Cup

As it often does in the early rounds, the weather has played havoc in the National Village Cup. In North Yorkshire (North) – Group 3, all the fixtures were conceded.

Folkton & Flixton, Sheriff Hutton Bridge, Moorsholm and Sutton-on-Hull all progressed without a ball being bowled.

In the only other Yorkshire-related fixture on Sunday 28 April, Great Preston conceded to Streethouse.

Bridlington lose the coin toss

Rain affected the National Club Championship too but in a 30-over-a-side contest, Barnard Castle (168-8, James Quinn 52) defeated Sessay (71, Rob West 4-20, Karl Carver 3-16).

Bridlington’s Preliminary Round game game against Norton was wiped out by the weather for a second time – hence the dreaded coin toss – that Brid lost.

Halifax Cricket League highs and lows

The Halifax Cricket League wins the award for the most extreme results.

In the Premier Division for First XIs, Shelf Northowram Hedge Top were shot out for 48 at home to Sowerby Bridge Church Institute (Tyson Illingworth 3-5).

Meanwhile, Triangle scored 435-7 against Sowerby Bridge before bowling them out for 133 to win by 302 runs.

Chief haymaker was Christian Silkstone whose knock of 175 off 64 balls will take some beating this season in the league. Silkstone has a history of mammoth knocks with 316 against Thornton in 2018.

Bradford Mutual Sunday School washout

As if to emphasise the sustained deluge we’ve had across winter and now spring, the Bradford Mutual Sunday School Cricket League has had both rounds so far completely ruined by the weather.

That’s 52 fixtures across four groups and two Saturdays completely abandoned. As in no games were able to even start. It can only get better, lads!

Ilkley unbeaten

To end on a positive if similar note, Ilkley Cricket Club can chalk off April with some satisfaction. They went unbeaten across all of their teams for the first time in their history.

1st, 2nd and 3rd XI teams, as well as Under 18s, Under 15s, Under 13s, and Under 11s teams have yet to lose a game. Ok, so all games have been washed out but it’s all about how you look at it!

Imagine a few clubs are unbeaten.

There were a couple of games in the league that went ahead. 2023 Premier Division champions Collingham & Linton (145) lost by 57 runs to Otley (202-6).

Alex Atkinson struck 105 at the top of the order for the visitors before Stephen Brown (3-21) and Oliver Halliday (5-36) did the business with the ball.

In Division 2, Kirkstall Educational (50-3) swept aside Shadwell (49) as Harry Costello (5-17) and Alex Swanston (3-17) took the bulk of the wickets.

In 2nd XI Division 1, Collingham & Linton and Burley-in-Wharfedale both won their away games against Otley and Tong Park Esholt respectively.