Heaton eye title after promotion
HANGING Heaton were promoted from Bradford League Division Two last Saturday after they took maximum points with a 44-run win over Keighley, while third-placed Bowling Old Lane lost by 108 runs at Manningham Mills.
It was a day when everything went for Heaton, who will be confirmed as champions tomorrow, if they claim two points at home to Hartshead Moor, who thumped title challengers Lightcliffe by 10 wickets.
Heaton saw off fourth-placed Keighley at Bennett Lane to ensure they return to the top flight at the first attempt.
After being reduced to 30-2, Haroon Rashid took charge, adding 62 with James Stansfield (20) and 77 with Imran Dawood, who hit 57 from 47 balls with six fours and three sixes, before falling to Steven Reape (2-58).
Rashid powered on and passed 1,000 club runs for the season before he was eventually dismissed by Max Davidson (5-60) for 80, having hit 13 fours.
The tail wagged, primarily thanks to Mark Inwood, who was last man out for 34, as Heaton reached 245 all out in 48.1 overs.
Matthew Bottomley (40) and Andrew Waggett put on 59 for the first Keighley wicket before Bottomley was caught and bowled by Rob McFarlane (1-29).
Waggett (18) followed soon after while John Carruthers (2-51) dismissed Imran Patel (29) and Simon Bailey (25) to leave the visitors 124-5.
Quinlan and Jonathan Wilkinson then staged a fightback with a stand of 62 and at 186-5 with plenty of overs in hand Keighley looked well set.
Both then fell in the space of three runs to Mark Lawson (3-60) and Nick Summerscales as the hosts wrestled back the initiative before Keighley were finally dismissed in the 35th over for 201.
It was fitting that Summerscales, a most loyal and consistent performer, should wrap up the innings with the last two wickets to seal promotion and end with 4-29 in 13.5 overs.
Heaton will no doubt have appreciated the efforts of Mohammad Altaf, who struck 113, as Manningham Mills (228-9) defeated Bowling Old Lane (120). The result confirmed Heaton's promotion and saw Mills go level on points with Old Lane and above them having one more win.
Second-placed Lightcliffe's faint title hopes were shattered as they failed to take a point at Hartshead Moor as they were shot out for just 94.
Danny Squire claimed a superb 3-11 in eight overs with two maidens, aided by Simon North (3-41), Joel Pollard (1-21) and Tom Manvell (2-17) as the visitors hung on for 45 overs.
Hartshead cruised to 98-0 in 27 overs as Graham Hilton made 31 and Craig Field 50, including seven fours and a six.
Tosh Baker and Matthew West both hit half-centuries as Spen Victoria won by 111 runs at Morley.
West (50) and Sean Raven put on 62 for the first Spen wicket – both fell to James McNichol (2-27) – while Baker hit 51 from 63 balls including two fours and four sixes.
Matthew Speck added 27 late on to help Spen reach 178-9.
James Russell claimed 1-34 while Nathan Bromby took three wickets in four balls to end with fine figures of 5-52.
Morley's hopes were shattered as two wickets each for Robert Warriner and Dan Abbott saw the home side tumble to 15-4 in the 10th over.
David Nebard top scored with 21 and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 29 with Michael Cooper (12) but wickets continued to fall and Morley were skittled out in the 31st over for just 67.
Warriner claimed an excellent 4-14 in seven overs with three maidens, Abbott took 2-29, Mahboob Hussain 1-11 and Will Smith 3-6 in eight.
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Weather for Batley
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
