Catching up with Leeds T20 league.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

Long suffering readers of this blog may recall considerable coverage in previous seasons of the Headingley Evening League which now seems to be re-named the Leeds T20 league or even the 365 league. This season the league has flourished with ten teams all situated to the north of the city playing fiercely contested games on Thursday evenings. Unfortunately for various reasons I have been unable to keep up with events until rather fortuitously yesterday evening I managed to see part of the game between Shadwell and Rawdon.

For some years now Shadwell have played at a well hidden ground at Brandon Crescent, well away from the centre of the village where they had played opposite the Red Lion pub since 1895 I believe. This  rural haven, complete with birdsong and now with a well appointed pavilion since my last visit, was an ideal spot to catch up after a few days without cricket.

Shadwell pavilion.

The home side batted first and made a creditable 140-5, despite losing both openers early on, with scores of 48 from Arslan Ijaz and 49 from skipper Hanzaq Mir. Rawdon resplendent in coloured clothing, which only a small number of teams in the league go in for, got off to a good start and were probably favourites being a few divisions higher than Shadwell in the Saturday Airedale/Wharfedale League set up.

However after a good opening partnership by Hodges (not the Dads Army one) and skipper Henry Scanlan, who deposited three sixes in the lane outside the ground, both perished in the thirties and wickets began to fall towards the end. The game was won by a rapid innings from James Doidge, the latest in the ubiquitous Doidge cricketing family. He made 38, including two fours and three sixes to add to his reputation which already includes a recent century in Saturday league cricket.

Rawdon batting at Shadwell.

So victory by four wickets for Rawdon, with an over to spare on a perfect summer evening. Possibly a certain lack of mobility in the field from some of the Shadwell fielders contributed to the visitors' success, but a great effort all round from both teams. Last night's fixtures were the penultimate round of matches before the end of season play offs.

Another boundary for Rawdon.

Next week the fixtures are spread over several days and are as follows:-

Tuesday 13/7 - Leeds Mods v Kirkstall Educational.

Wednesday 14/7 - Cookridge v St. Chads

Thursday 15/7 - Adel v Shadwell, Green Lane v New Rover and Rawdon v Hall Park.

The top four teams in the table are currently Hall Park, Kirkstall, Rawdon and Adel but all to play for next week.