FOUR WEEK DELAY

By Brian Sanderson,

I would just like  to comment on John last blog.I was born in LS15 and first played league cricket at Colton some fiftyyears ago.We never thought of  Berwick  as in our area as we had to go there via the train from Crossgates station.

However back to the present I have just come back from Pudsey Congs who  played Hanging Heaton in the quarter-final of the Priestley Cup.T he match had been put off four weekends due the rain so everybody was grateful of the sunshine and the drying wind to-day. Both side  had a weaken side but Pudsey were missing two main bowlers.These were Roberts and the overseas player M.Naved.

The outfield was still wet but  Hanging Heaton batted first.Wickets fell steadly and they were struggling until a sixth wicket partnership of 74 give Hanging Heaton hope.The two main batsmen were Ashan Butt who scored 82 and David Stiff who scored 32.David Stiff played for Yorkshire and  Somerset and is mainly a quick bowler as he is over sixfoot six in height.I remember  him scoring a quick fifty against Yorkshire at Taunton not many years ago. The final score after fifty overs was  218 for 8.The best bowler was the second team leg-spinner M.Shah who took 2 for 27 in his ten overs.

My thoughts at the start of the Pudsey innings were who in the side will play the Butt innings by scoring eighty runs and help to win the match.No batsmen never managed the feat and they were 120 for 5 but finished all out for 190.The best bowlers were Lawson,ex Yorkshire,Bresnan,brother of Tim, and Stiff.  They took nine wickets for  95 runs so the better bowling side won the match on the day.

There was a semi-final going on at East Bierley against Woodlands . The second favorites East Bierley got through due Gavin Hamilton ex Yorkshire and England batting.

There is a match at Darlington starting Tuesday involving Durham Seconds  against a Irish side.It is a thrre day match and Darlington ground is one my favorites so please come along.