Comment

THE two promoted clubs Yeadon and Esholt got little joy on the opening day of the Bradford League season.

On a dry but windy day at Jenny Lane Yeadon saw Baildon win the toss and elect to bat. On a decent batting surface Yeadon started the match in the best possible way with debutant Greg Lambert claiming his first wicket for the club bowling young opening batsman Jonny Reynolds for one.

It was Lambert who was the chief destroyer for Yeadon, claiming 5-44, whilst Andrew Robertson claimed three wickets with his left arm medium pace.

The bowling figures read well for Yeadon, however it was the amount of extras which will concern captain David Leather. Altogether, 37 were conceded and these runs ended up being Baildon's top score.

Baildon were eventually bowled out for 177 with Grant Soames claiming the last wicket.

Leather said: "I know we're a better team than the one that showed up on Saturday. Baildon are a good side and difficult to beat at their place but we gave them too many extras. We also dropped a couple of chances which cost us some valuable runs.

"I believe they should have got around 140 instead of 177. Even so, at the half way stage we were right in it. But then we got off to a slow start and the loss of wickets in a big cluster cost us dearly."

Regarding the extras Leather said; "I have to put them down to a bit of rustiness. There were quite a few leg byes but I expect us to put things right quickly. In this league we can't afford to give sides 25 free runs."

Even though disappointed by the amount of extras, Leather was encouraged with the way his bowling unit gained maximum bowling points.

He said: "I think we bowled pretty well. In hindsight I don't think we did enough with the new ball but in the middle 30 overs we bowled and fielded well.

"Towards the end of the innings we dropped a couple of crucial catches and they seemed to get away from us a little bit. However, I am sure things will improve with more game time."

The performance of Lambert also gained special praise from the skipper. Leather said: "Greg made a great start to his career at Yeadon. He bowled well up front and then came back and did a really good job at the death."

Chasing 178 to win, Yeadon's reply started off badly with Leather being caught at mid-off by his opposite number - Ian Philliskirk - for a duck. Things continued to get worse for Yeadon as none of their batsmen were able to offer any resistance and they were eventually dismissed for 76.

Disappointed with the low total Leather however did feel some sympathy for his batsmen because of the lack of outdoor preparation saying: "With the weather being so poor recently we've been unable to have a net session on grass and I felt that it really showed in our batting on Saturday. Weather permitting, we'll hopefully get some outdoor practice under our belt this week."

A cricket season can be described with analogy it's not a sprint but a marathon' and whilst the defeat is disappointing, there is plenty more to come from Yeadon.

This fact was also re-emphasised by Leather who is sure his side can bounce back against Bradford and Bingley.

He said: "We'll be focused on doing the basics well, put what we did wrong last week right and giving Bradford and Bingley a good game on Saturday. They are a good side who had a great result last weekend so they'll be on high but we just need to focus on ourselves and we'll be fine."

The second XI fixture saw a reversal in result, and it was again the Yeadon bowlers who impressed. After scoring 131 off their 50 overs Nick Darfield claimed a superb 6-27 which helped Yeadon to win by five runs.

Yeadon's policy to give younger members of the club an opportunity to play senior cricket paid dividends with opening bowler Ben Galley taking a wicket and scoring a valuable 23 towards the end of the innings. His U-17s teammate Robbie Welsh bowled tidily and finished with three maidens in a six over spell.

However, it was the club's long standing players who won the game. Jon Carey's performance in the middle order rescued the innings and maybe the match. After coming in to bat with score on 9-3 his determined 51 helped steady the ship.

His solid platform gave the tail the opportunity to get some quick runs, which they did. Yeadon ended on 131-8 on a tough but typical early season Yeadon track.

Darfield's probing line and length caused havoc for Baildon as he ripped through the heart of their batting line up.

Baildon were cruising at 94-2 until Darfield entered the fray and took six consecutive wickets to swing the momentum back in Yeadon's favour. Baildon eventually ran out of overs and finished on 126-9.

This Saturday's fixtures see the first XI play against Bradford and Bingley at Wagon Lane whilst the seconds are again at home, this time to newly promoted Cleckheaton, start at 1.30pm.

There was no joy either for Esholt who were shot out for 55 against the pace of Imran Arif (6-27) and the nous of Nick Summerscales (3-18) as Hanging Heaton won by 141 runs. James Stansfield hit 87 and Alan Mynett 44 for Hanging Heaton.

11:56am Thursday 1st May 2008

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