Senior Section round-up 4/5 September - Part II

 

 

The race for promotion at the top of Division 5 will go into the last weekend after league-leaders Handsworth failed to win at Conisbrough 2nds. The visitors were put in to bat and were held together in the early stages by a half-century from Waqas Ali, whilst wickets fell at the other end. When Ali was out at 117-5, a collapse looked on the cards, but Humayun Bashir (46 from 20 balls) and Moneeb Ahmed (25) added 56 for the sixth wicket in no time at all to change the complexion of the innings and ensure a competitive total. Nathan Chadburn stood out amongst the bowlers with a season’s best 5-32. In Conisbrough’s reply, the dismissal of opener Jonathan Redfern at 38 brought Gary Strephan to the crease, and he hammered 124 not out from just 82 balls with 10 fours and 9 sixes to make the target look ridiculously easy. 

 

Handsworth JSC 219 (42.1) Waqas Ali 52, Humayun Bashir 47, Craig Jackson 3-38, Nathan Chadburn 5-32 

Conisbrough 2 221-5 (36) Stuart Coleman 55, Gary Strephan 124* 

 

 

Upper Haugh 2nds should be safe from relegation after winning away at second-bottom Kilnhurst Colliery. After electing to bowl first, the visitors would have been happy to dismiss their hosts for just 160. Chris Pearson was the spearhead of the attack and picked up 5-43, his best figures of the season. The only batting of note for Kilnhurst came from Calum Dearden and Matthew Watson, who shared a half-century third-wicket stand, after which wickets fell regularly. Upper Haugh made light work of the target, winning with plenty to spare. Opener Daniel Crofts held the innings together with an unbeaten 67, and he received good support from Michael Linney. 

 

Kilnhurst Colliery 160 (36.1) Calum Dearden 37, Matthew Watson 36, Chris Pearson 5-43, Adam Perry 3-42 

Upper Haugh 2nds 161-3 (33) Daniel Crofts 67*, Michael Linney 42 

 

 

Norton Oakes 2nds’ win at home to Coal Aston 2nds leaves both sides just inside the relegation zone, but with a chance of avoiding the drop. Coal Aston were put in to bat and their innings was a rather disjointed one. Chris Timms and Andrew Lockwood put on 54 for the first wicket; then four wickets fell for one run; Matthew Boreman and Luke Park then added 54 for the fifth wicket; three wickets then fell for the addition of 18. With the visitors 127-7, Oakes would have been happy, but they were unable to remove Park who was unbeaten on 68 at the end, having added a further 53 with the tailenders. In reply, the home side soon recovered from 1-1 and Neil White and Thomas Trower took them to 115-2. Although that became 138-5, whilst White was there, Oakes looked comfortable. But when White became one of Edward Rabjohn’s five victims at 161, four wickets then fell for the addition of 16 runs and it was anyone’s game. In the end, number 11 Carl Fairhurst hit a four to see his side home by the narrowest of margins. 

 

Coal Aston 2 180 (45.2) Chris Timms 37, Luke Park 68*, Matthew Boreman 30, Carl Fairhurst 3-45, Tom Graham 3-22 

Norton Oakes 2 182-9 (41.5) Neil White 63, Thomas Trower 50, Edward Rabjohn 5-44 

 

 

Penistone would have seen the visit of bottom side Bradfield Village Fellowship as an opportunity for a much needed nine points to improve their chances of avoiding relegation, but they ended up being dragged further into the relegation mire. After electing to bat first, the visitors were indebted to opener Craig Shepherd’s fighting 62 for a respectable score, as fellow opener Paul Garnett was the only other batsman to reach 20. Bradfield’s main destroyer came in the shape of fourth-change Joseph Spencer, who took 4-16, his only wickets of the season. A target of 160 was within Penistone’s reach, and although both openers fell for ducks, Michael Brown took charge with a fine half-century. It was when Philip Clark bowled Brown for 64 that it all went wrong for the home side, and they lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs against some excellent bowing by Clark, Joseph Mabe and Paul Garnett. 

 

Bradfield VF 2 159-8 (46) Craig Shepherd 62, Joseph Spencer 4-16 

Penistone 2 135 (43.3) Michael Brown 64, Philip Clark 3-33, Joseph Mabe 3-27, Paul Garnett 3-17 

 

 

Darfield 2nds’ win away at Whiston Forge put them in with a real chance of promotion on the final day of the season, as they sit just six points behind their hosts having played a game less. The home side elected to bowl first in this huge encounter and will have regretted that choice as their visitors made their way to 208, a good score in a nervy end of season game. Ashley Potter’s 65 (76 balls) led the way at the top of the order, and Kye Kitching and Jack Parkinson provided positive middle-order support. Whiston Forge started well in their reply with Kristian Lee-Green and John Wagstaff sharing a 63-run opening partnership and with Steve Cowles going well they reached 125-2. Then Cade Darwin’s dismissal triggered a collapse, and the home side lost seven wickets for just 48 runs with Aiden Speed and Declan Dickinson doing the damage. 

 

Darfield 2 208 (45.5) Ashley Potter 65, Kye Kitching 37, Jack Parkinson 38, Andy Smith 3-63, Scott Biddles 3-39 

Whiston F 173 (43.5) Kristian Lee-Green 48, John Wagstaff 31, Steve Cowles 45, Declan Dickinson 3-36, Aiden Speed 4-15 

 

 

 

Promoted Doncaster Town put a spoke in the wheel of Sheffield United’s survival bid at Finningley. The home side elected to bat first and United would have been encouraged by restricting them to 126-9 after 40 overs, with Rehan Mir the pick of their attack. In reply, the visitors were soon in trouble and despite Ali Akhtar’s 27 were bowled out well short of their target, thanks to three wickets each from Iain Wormald and Ryan Marsh. Safety is still in United’s hands though as they move into the last weekend. 

 

Doncaster T 3 126-9 (40) Rehan Mir 3-11 

Sheffield U 2 93 (28.3) Iain Wormald 3-26, Ryan Marsh 3-27 

 

 

 

An eight-wicket win for relegated Millhouses Works consigned Thorncliffe to the same fate. Having elected to bat first, Thorncliffe reached 75-1, with keeper Richard Berry contributing a positive 28 at the top of the order. After that, wickets fell regularly against Tom Endacott and Noah Ellis, with only Muraad Ghani (27) providing much resistance, as the visitors were all out for 135. Millhouses had no trouble at all chasing their target, with Ellis sharing a second-wicket stand of 90 with Yashodan Purandare on his way to a fine unbeaten half-century. 

 

Thorncliffe 2 135 (37.3) Tom Endacott 4-25, Noah Ellis 3-14 

Millhouses W 2 136-2 (22.1) Noah Ellis 62*, Yashodhan Purandare 31 

 

 

There were no surprises at Wentworth, where the bottom club were well-beaten by third-placed Green Moor. Having put the home side in to bat, all seven bowlers used took a wicket, with League stalwart David Ward taking 3-8 in seven overs, as Wentworth were dismissed for a well below par 112. The Airstone brothers, Harry and Daniel, then had no trouble in knocking off the required runs inside 20 overs in an unbroken opening stand. 

 

Wentworth 112 (39.4) David Ward 3-8 

Green Moor 2 113-0 (19.4) Daniel Airstone 54*, Harry Airstone 53* 

 

 

Top of the division Wombwell Main had a very comfortable win over a Brookhouse side that are desperate for points in their fight to stay in the division. Having been put in to bat by the visitors, Wombwell had a 79-run opening stand between Adam Wallace and Thomas Goldsby-West, the latter going on to make an excellent 94 off 111 balls and receiving fine support in an 80-run third-wicket stand from skipper Richard Batty. Faced with a daunting task, Brookhouse were soon in real trouble against Ben Reeves, Tom Peck and Callum Whitehead, and slumped to 51-9. Only a last-wicket stand of 58 between William Braithwaite (26) and skipper Wasim Kazi (27) prevented them real embarrassment. For Wombwell, promotion is secured, and the championship just about in the bag, whilst the visitors will live to fight another day. 

 

Wombwell M 210-4 (40) Adam Wallace 36, Thomas Goldsby-West 94, Richard Batty 37 

Brookhouse 109 (34.1) Ben Reeves 4-25 

 

 

 

 

Frecheville Community 2nds’ hopes of promotion were dashed by this defeat at fifth-placed Higham. Having been put in to bat, the visitors struggled for momentum in the early stages. Edward Shepherd’s unbeaten half-century held the innings together and a quick-fire 31 off 15 balls from Bradley Cornthwaite provided some impetus late on. Paul Wroe’s 43 at the top of the order and an unbeaten half-century from Ian Gray saw Higham over the line, but not without scares as eight wickets fell before the target was reached; Adam Gibson taking 4-18 for the visitors. 

 

Frecheville C 2 164-5 (40) Edward Shepherd 51*, Bradley Cornthwaite 31 

Higham 2 166-8 (39) Paul Wroe 43, Ian Gray 52*, Adam Gibson 4-18 

 

 

Doncaster Town 4ths remain well in the hunt for survival after brushing aside relegated Silkstone United 2nds. The visitors put their hosts in to bat in the hope of bowling them out cheaply, and so it transpired. Sunjoon Sohn led the way with 5-12, his best effort of the season, and Oliver Booth took 3-17 as Silkstone were shot out for 97; only number seven batsman Ian Wrightson providing any real resistance. Town made light work of the chase, racing home without the loss of a wicket. Ryan Capstick farmed more of the strike as he made his way to an unbeaten 58 off 67 balls, as Town eased over the line in 19 overs. 

 

Silkstone U 2 97 (36.5) Ian Wrightson 34*, Oliver Booth 3-17, Sunjoon Singh 5-12 

Doncaster T 4 101-0 (19) Ryan Capstick 58*, Ramanan Raj 35* 

 

 

Sprotbrough 3rds’ massive first innings total saw their Division 7 title challenge continue with a brutal win at home to Dearne. The visitors were made to pay for their decision to bowl first, both Robbie Graves (154 off 98 balls) and William Rudkin (134 in 98) hammering centuries – the former hitting 21 fours and 6 sixes – and with both batsmen recording their highest ever scores. Despite an opening stand of 77 between Jack Deakin and Scott Hardman, Dearne simply never looked like mounting a challenge and collapsed from 128-2 to 140 all out – Daniel Clark taking 5-5 for the home side. 

 

Sprotbrough 3 355-4 (40) Robbie Graves 154, William Rudkin 138* 

Dearne 140 (31.4) Jack Deakin 37, Daniel Clark 5-5 

 

 

 

Whitley Hall 3rds have now secured promotion, making light work of a home win over fourth-placed Harley. After electing to bowl first, the home side limited their visitors to 167-9. Harley’s top thee all contributed twenties to get the side off to a decent enough start, but only Callum Sverdloff went on to record a significant score. Whitley Hall made the chase look easy, Joshua Dobson leading the way at the top of the order, putting on 69 for the first wicket with Elliott Ashton (24), and going on to make 68 before Ben Gillott and Oliver Ashton saw them over the line. 

 

Harley 167-9 (40) Callum Sverdloff 49, Matty Lee 3-15 

Whitley Hall 3 170-3 (35.3) Joshua Dobson 68 

 

 

Bottom club Wath are still looking for a second win of the season and were well beaten away at Worsbrough Bridge. After being put into bat, the away side failed to put together any partnerships of note as they fell to 112 all out. Their hosts used eight bowlers, with six of them taking wickets; Jackson Taylor taking 3-0 in three overs, while Archie Wootton-Allott and Freya Littlewood took two wickets each. The reply was almost a formality for Worsbrough Bridge, and they made it to the target with eight wickets remaining. Openers Robert Stubbings and Taylor, the latter capping fine personal performance with 38, set them on their way with a stand of 82. The sides will meet again in division 8 next season. 

 

Wath 3 112 (37.2) Jackson Taylor 3-0 

Worsbrough Bridge 2 113-2 (19.5) Jackson Taylor 38, Robert Stubbings 56 

 

 

 

Bottom of the League Whiston Forge’s miserable season continued with a resounding 208-run defeat against fourth-placed Adwick-Le-Street. A second-wicket stand of 214 between Luke Bishop and captain Nick Bisby took the game away from the visitors, both batsmen completing fine hundreds. Carl Newbold did the damage with 5-22 as Forge crumbled to 68 in their reply. 

 

Adwick-le-Street 2 276-2 (40) Luke Bishop 112*, Nick Bisby 111 

Whiston Forge 2 68 (20.5) Gareth Haigh 31, Carl Newbold 5-22 

 

 

Mexborough Athletic celebrated their promotion with a seven-wicket win over mid-table Brookhouse. Matthew Kirk played almost a lone hand for the home side after they were put in to bat; only number eight batsman Jawad Khan (24*) providing him with much support against Saqib Mumtaz and Jonathan Mason. Mexborough made the chase look simple, John Chantry carrying his bat for an unbeaten 49 and receiving excellent support from Owen Brinton in a second-wicket stand of 91. 

 

Brookhouse 2 131-9 (40) Matthew Kirk 67, Saqib Mumtaz 4-15, Jonathan Mason 3-25 

Mexborough A 2 135-3 (32.2) John Chantry 49*, Owen Brinton 44 

 

 

Third-placed Rockingham Colliery picked up a straightforward win over mid-table visitors Wombwell Main by six wickets. After they had elected to bat, the Wombwell openers, captain Martin Pickering and Andrew Millington, put on 72 but six wickets then fell for the addition of five runs as they slumped from 82-1 to 87-7. Jack Skelton (13*) then helped Millington add a further 35 for the eighth wicket to achieve some sort of respectability. Ryan Whitehouse was the pick of the home attack with 3-11. Rockingham got home inside 26 overs with opener Reece Woodhead hitting an unbeaten 67 and receiving good support from James Andrews in a 62-run second wicket stand that took their team to the brink of victory. 

 

Wombwell M 2 122-7 (40) Andrew Millington 50*, Martin Pickering 42, Ryan Whitehouse 3-11 

Rockingham C 3 123-4 (25.3) Reece Woodhead 67*, James Andrews 32 

 

Rockingham Colliery 4ths v Monk Bretton 2nds (at Monk Bretton) 

 

Top of the division Monk Bretton continue to sweep all before them as they recorded a five-wicket win over Rockingham Colliery 4th. The visitors elected to fielded first, and after Dave Smith and Jack Tinker had added 60 for their first wicket, Ged McInerney took over with 6-17, which restricted the home side to 123-9 after 40 overs. Opener Ollie Wainwright then took his team to victory with an unbeaten 64. 

 

Rockingham C 4 123-9 (40) Dave Smith 31, Jack Tinker 31, Ged McInerney 6-17 

Monk Bretton 2 128-5 (33) Ollie Wainwright 64* 

 

 

This was a shock win by second-bottom Sheffield United who beat fifth-placed Eden Grove by 10 wickets, after bowling them out for a miserable 34. Asad Akhtar did the damage for the home side with 6-8. Sheffield United then romped to victory in the 16th over, with Stephen Reaney unbeaten on 27. 

 

Eden Grove P 2 34 (22.5) Asad Akhtar 6-8 

Sheffield U 3 38-0 (15.1) 

 

Adwick-le-Street 2nds v Wombwell Main 2nds (played Sunday) 

 

A poor weekend for Wombwell, who lost again on Sunday, this time to in-form Adwick-Le-Street. The home side elected to bat first and made a highly competitive 192 after being 24-4. The rescue was performed by Liam and Paul Bishop, both making 40s, Lucas Slatter doing the early damage for Wombwell. After the visitors’ openers were separated at 32 in their reply, wickets fell regularly with Christopher Jeeves the main destroyer. 

 

Adwick-le-Street 2 192 (38) Paul Bishop 49*, Liam Bishop 47, Lucas Slatter 4-39 

Wombwell M 2 69 (29.4) Christopher Jeeves 6-17