In this round-up, we’ll give you the lowdown on how Bradford League teams are faring across the top division for 1st XIs, including lead performers with ball and bat.
The plan is to shine a light on each of the four Premier Leagues in the coming weeks. (Stats featured below refer to league only – so not the Priestley Cup, Heavy Woollen Cup or any other competitions.)
📸 Photos are by the one-and-only Ray Spencer and you can check out news, stats, interviews and photography on the Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League website.
(After you’ve read this 😁)
Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League
(As of Wednesday 17 July)
1. Jer Lane – 197
2. Woodlands – 191
3. New Farnley – 181
4. Townville – 177
5. Methley – 171
6. Undercliffe – 151
7. Pudsey St Lawrence – 145
8. Ossett – 143
9. Cleckheaton – 130
10. Bradford & Bingley – 127
11. Farsley – 119
12. Pudsey Congs – 66
Good luck trying to predict who will win the Bradford Premier League this season because it’s turning out to be a rollercoaster.
Defending champions Woodlands are very much in the mix, as you’d expect them to be, but Jer Lane deservedly lead which might have surprised some back in April.
With 13 games gone, there is plenty of cricket left and with 20pts (10 for a win and 10 bonus points) up for grabs each time, places can – and probably will – change frequently.
What we do know is that Woodlands don’t have it all their way this season as they largely did in 2023.
Realistically, Jer Lane, Woodlands, New Farnley and Townville are likely to be the top four in one order or another (he says cautiously), though Methley have already shown they can disrupt the form book on occasion.
But gaze into your crystal ball at your peril.
Townville beat league leaders
The round of fixtures on Saturday 13 July is a case in point. Leaders Jer Lane lost by 47 runs at Townville with the hosts having Yorkshire’s Ben Coad (4-19) in their ranks.
Townville have now beaten Jer Lane, New Farnley and Woodlands this season and in Dushan Vimukthi (above), there’s the top-performing all-rounder in the league.
With 701 runs and 27 wickets, Vimukthi is a proven matchwinner, while Holliday (621 runs), Jack Hughes (23 wickets) and Conor Harvey (21 wickets) are all contributing.
Jer Lane’s main concern is likely to be consistency. Losses to Methley and Townville are offset by a statement eight-wicket win at Woodlands in late June.
Mosun Hussain (516 runs) has enjoyed his move from the Huddersfield League and the wicket-taking prowess of the Bradford Park Avenue side has been shared around.
Amir Hussain (29 wickets) leads the league wicket-takers; Yasir Ali (19 wickets), Cosmond Walters (18) and Adal Islam (14 wickets) all offer threats in their own way.
Woodlands wobble over
Woodlands wobbled in late June with two heavy defeats but are otherwise as ominously successful as usual. Their narrow defeat by seven runs to Ormskirk in the ECB National Club Championship might ultimately be a blessing when it comes to their league prospects.
Brad Schmulian is doing his thing yet again. He has 510 runs and 24 wickets while Bilal (19 wickets), Kez Ahmed (16 wickets) and Eliot Richardson (13 wickets) are other threats with ball in hand.
Cam Fletcher return?
New Farnley would expect to challenge strongly for the league again and they are well placed. They’ve racked up a few hefty totals but not been able to defend them. An achilles heel? We’ll see.
Ryan McKendry (453 runs), Steve Bullen (370), Aidan Langley (358) and Usman Arshad (319) illustrate their batting strength, while Yasir Abbas (18 wickets), McKendry (13) and Arshad (11) are in the wickets.
Cam Fletcher (282 runs from 5 games) was snapped up by Derbyshire for the T20 Blast and his return would be significant.
At the other end of the table, Pudsey Congs are a long way adrift and having a tough season. Farsley find themselves in the other relegation spot but to be honest, there will be a few sides hoping to gather some momentum – and points – in the last two months of 2024.
Bradford & Bingley can’t seem to replicate their shorter format success while further up, Cleckheaton and Ossett will be mindful of the maths and performances to avoid a September relegation scrap.
Let’s finish with a few headliners…
🏏 Bradford Premier League Batting Averages
Dushan Vimukthi (Townville)
🏏 701 runs @77.89 (HS of 151)
Yousaf Baber (Cleckheaton)
🏏 660 runs @ 66 (HS of 161)
Chris Holliday (Townville)
🏏 521 runs @51.75 (HS of 113)
Taylor Cornall (Methley)
🏏 518 runs @51.50 (HS of 120)
🚀 Bradford Premier League Bowling Averages
Amir Hussain (Jer Lane)
🏏 29 wkts @14.53 (BB of 6-33)
Bradley Sylvester (Cleckheaton)
🏏28 wkts @19.89 (BB of 5-54)
Dushan Vimukthi (Townville)
🏏27 wkts @21.74 (BB of 5-31)
Joe Pocklington (Farsley)
🏏27 wkts @23.52 (BB of 4-85)
Calum Fletcher (Undercliffe)
🏏26 wkts @24.23 (BB of 6-31)
I know all of this changes soon and yet it’s a useful snapshot for those interested in all things Bradford League. As ever, thanks for reading.
Please share and comment here or on social media – it all helps others discover Cricket Yorkshire and find out more about club and league cricket.
Want to read more?
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- Harry Brook: From Burley to number one in the world - December 11, 2024
met you at Lightcliffe earlier in the season enjoying your reports on a regular basis. Many thanks
Thanks Andy, very kind to say. I always enjoy bumping into readers at cricket games around Yorkshire.
I think cam fletcher was snapped up by Glamorgan last year. Derbyshire this year for blast and county championship
You’re dead right and I’ve made that change 👍