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SBCI 2022 – July 2022 review
As we reach the end of July, there are just seven weeks left of the senior season, with the second team still in the mix to bring home the league title. The junior season is all but done save for some Under 9 and Under 11 cup matches- victory in these games will take us into finals day- to be hosted by the club on 28th August.
Senior Cricket
1st Team
Just the one win in July out of five matches for our first team with 12 points picked up from the four matches which we lost- leaving us 9th in the table but 19 points above the drop zone.
A poor start to the month away at Illingworth, where we were bowled out for less than 100. Ikhlaq was our top scorer with 22 with five other players getting into double figures before getting no further. In reply, we had Illingworth 27 for 3 and then 56 for 4 in pursuit of 96, but despite 4 wickets from Olly Benson, our total was chased down inside 20 overs.
A week later, we bagged 12 points thanks to a comfortable 37 run with over Luddendenfoot. Scoffer top scored with 52 supported with more than useful contributions from Arun (33) Simon (28) and Ikhlaq (38)- go get us to 181-9. The Luddendenfoot wickets were shared around (Lewis 4 and Alex 3) as the ‘Foot reply never really recovered from 72 for 5.
We were poor in the field seven days later against Bradshaw as a rapid outfield and a century from the Bradshaw number 4 saw them post 267 for 5- OB with three wickets. Arun top scored with 64 with Tom making 35 and Ikhlaq continuing his recent form of good form with 22. Mike and Lewis also made useful contributions with 17 and 19* respectively but we finished on 200 for 8 and nowhere near the score that our guests had posted.
When you’re 16 for 7 away at Copley chasing 200 to win, you know its not going to be your day. We were excellent in the field and with the ball and despite Copley getting off to a flyer and being 98 for 2 off 17/18 overs, we got them all out for 199- Lewis and Scoffers with 4 wickets a piece. Only Lewis and OB made it into double figures with the bat and took the score onto 50, before the last 3 wickets tumbled leaving us 64 all out.
Onto the final match of the month at home to Booth- where we skirted around a few showers and managed to get a full game in. A 124 partnership between the Laycock brothers was the ultimate difference between the teams as they recovered from 52 for 3 to post 211 for 9. Oliver Benson with five wickets and Adam Fawcett taking an absolute worldie on the bottom boundary to break the fourth wicket partnership. The Wood brothers combination worked the following ball to remove the other Laycock brother. A solid start made by Adam and Tom with the bat (23 and 74 respectively) had us in contention to pull off a win but we lost four wickets for 13 runs to effectively end any hope of finishing July with a win. Ikhlaq and Scoffers the only two other players to make it into double figures.
2nd Team
A couple of defeats in the last two weeks of July shouldn’t detract from yet another good month for the second team and a fantastic season (to date) as they end the month in second place in the league table- just six points behind Sowerby St Peters.
Blackley were rolled out for just 71 in the first game of July with Hampy the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 30, ably backed up by Keasty and Sudanshu (two wicket a piece). In reply, Tony forgot to put his box on as we romped home by nine wickets- Mark and Greeny with scores in the twenties to see us over the line with 28 overs to spare.
A six hit by Jonathan Hampshire with four balls remaining of the match against Bridgeholme saw the 2’s take 11 points from a thrilling match. Brad and Hampy took five wickets between them in the Bridgeholme innings, with the home side recovering from 54-5 to post 242 following a 160 run partnership for the 6th wicket. We were cruising to victory at 215 for 4 after all of our top five had made good scores with Chris, Tyson and Brad leading the way with 77, 46 and 42. Two wickets fell with the score on 217 and then another five runs later to leave us on 222 for 7, before Jonathan came up with the heroics in the final over of the game.
If the Bridgeholme game was a nail-biter then the game away at Bradshaw was a walk in the park. Hampy 4 for 23 and Tyson 3 for 37 saw our hosts for the day bowled out for 107. TK (fully kitted out this week) was the only wicket to fall as an unbeaten half-century from Mark, 28 from Tony and 20* from Chris saw us comfortably over the winning line.
And so onto the two defeats of the month. Sowerby comfortably chased down our 167 all out, despite us having them 33 for 5 (Hampy 4 for 60). Mark top scored with 51 with useful contributions from Tony (22) and Jonathan (30*), but it wasn’t to be enough as Sowerby ran out winners by four wickets and with 12 overs left.
An agonising 9 run defeat away at Booth saw us finish the month on a disappointing note. Booth were 18 for 3 at one stage, but a 211 4th wicket partnership saw them recover to make a probable par score of 238 – Hampy and Brad taking two wickets each. Our reply got off to a flyer with Gnanam scoring 95 off 43 balls with 88 of those coming in boundaries (including 10 sixes). Despite 33 from John, and 27 and 23 from Chris and Brad respectively, 155-2 turned into 218 for 8 and despite yet another red inker from Jonathan- 20*- our last wicket partnership fell nine runs short.
Plenty of time to turn this around and get the title hunt back on track- especially knowing that Mytholmroyd will be deducted 12 points at some stage.
Sunday Side
Just the three fixtures for our Sunday side in July. First week of the month was the Rod Warhurst cup final- so no game that weekend. The following week, Northowram Fields conceded, meaning that we picked up 20 points, but not in the way we would have liked.
We played Low Moor on 17th and picked up 5 points having been on the end of a 73 run defeat. Paul Michael Collins the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 27. Dave Grundy top scored with 32 in our response, but we slipped from 100 for 6 to 131 all out despite useful contributions from Ken, Sudanshu, Bash and Charlie.
The game at home to Almondbury was unfortunately curtailed by the rain, but not before we’d reduced the opposition to 45 for 6 in the 80 mins or so play we got in. Greg 4 for 15 pick of the bowlers with Albie and Muteeb also picking up a wicket each -11 points picked up from that game.
Mount – a hat-trick from Muteeb Mahmood was the highlight of the last match of the month and a good month overall for the young man as he turned 21 a couple of weeks previously. 3 for 28 for Muteeb, ably backed-up by two wickets each for both Albie and Greg Boocock. Only two batters made it into double figures when we batted (Albie 22 and Charlie 15) as we closed on 74 for 9, some 110 runs short of our victory target.
Junior Cricket
As always, there have been some fantastic individual performances across all three age groups, with the mentality of the SBCI junior section ensuring that everyone gets to have a go and enjoys themselves.
A win and a tie for the Under 9’s in the two games they managed to play in July- with one abandoned. They now play a cup game this coming Thursday (4th) against Copley.
Just two games for the Under 11’s side in July and we lost both against the same opposition and worthy league winners- Low Moor. We also had a match postponed against Bradshaw because of the heat!! We’re looking to play that match on Wednesday 10th August, but not before we start our cup campaign away at Outlane on 8th August.
The Under 13’s cup campaign was a round-robin affair this year with us having games against Queensbury, Sowerby Bridge, Low Moor and Clayton. We have a very young side and will retain all but two of these players for at least one more year. Everyone gets two overs with the ball and where we can and game situation permitting a go with the bat. We lost all four games, but at this stage its all about enjoying it and having a go. Onwards and upwards.
Junior training for all age groups will finish on Friday 12th August. A big thank you to everyone who has helped out either with the training or behind the scenes (bar/ tuck shop).
If anyone has a couple of hours free on Sunday 28th August, then any help anyone can offer with the running of junior finals day would be greatly appreciated- please contact Dave if you can help.
Lewis & Dave