2 weeks Ago
Saltaire could not have made a worse start to the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division season. The 2021 champions have rarely come close to replicating that glorious title success four years ago, and if Saturday was anything to go by, they could be in for a tough campaign. They were at Steeton and decided to field after winning the toss.
That soon looked to be an unwise decision, as the home team racked up 300-6 in their 50 overs. All the Saltaire bowlers struggled to stem the runs, though Ihsan Ihsanullah did emerge with some credit after taking 3-86 from his 15 overs. In reply, Saltaire were unlucky in that Farhaan Hussain had to retire with a calf injury when well set on 43, but that only hastened the inevitable.
They were dismissed for just 117, leaving Steeton as winners by a whopping 183 runs. Tong Park Esholt only narrowly survived in the top flight last season, and they suffered a tough start on Saturday, losing by 80 runs against Horsforth Hall Park. The Bradford side reduced their visitors to 70-4 after 20 overs at Esholt Lane, but then the experienced Andy Bairstow took charge.
On the same Easter Weekend as his younger brother Jonny scored an unbeaten 86 to secure a hard-fought draw at Durham in the Rothesay County Championship , Bairstow battered a sensational 133 not out from just 95 balls. That propelled Hall Park to 280-8 from their 50 overs, but Esholt made a good start in reply. Opener Aidan Salvado struck 59 and the hosts looked well set on 117-2.
But then Henry Wainman (6-48) ran through the middle order to instigate a collapse, as Tong Park stumbled to 200-9 at the end of their allotted overs. In Division One, Bolton Villas were always chasing the game at Rawdon, after the hosts racked up a mammoth 346-7 from their 50 overs. A sign of their struggles came through opening bowler Adam Shabir, who took two wickets, but conceded 104 runs from his 12 overs.
To the Bradford side’s credit, they put up a superb fight in their reply, opener and keeper Fahim Khan scoring 93 before Shahzaib Khan blasted a stunning 121 from 87 balls. But they ran out of wickets in the end, bowled out for 306 after 46.5 overs to lose by 40 runs.
The defeats continued for the Bradford sides down in Division Two, with Thackley beaten by four wickets at Rodley. Jack Holland scored 51 not out in the middle order, but he lacked support, as Thackley were dismissed for just 164. Aftab Khan bowled brilliantly in Rodley’s reply, taking 3-30 from 14 overs as the hosts slumped to 37-4.
But Rodley recovered well, despite the best efforts of Khan’s partner in crime, Craig Wiseman, who took 3-59 in a losing cause. Craig Wiseman took three wickets in Thackley's opening-day defeat. (Image: Andy Garbutt) In the end, it was left to Bingley Congs to stop the rot for the Bradford contingent in the Aire-Wharfe League, as they won by 19 runs at Old Leodiensians.
Neil Copping rescued a floundering innings by striking 52 from 35 balls to propel Congs to 228-8 from their 50 overs. He rounded off a herculean performance by taking 4-47 to ensure Leos were dismissed for 209, but credit must also go to his team-mate Muhammad Adil, who struck 27 not out before claiming 3-50..
