Bradford & Bingley CC v Farsley CC

Date: May 16
Venue: Wagon Lane, Bingley
Weather: Cool and damp
Result: Bradford & Bingley won by 98 runs
Points: Farsley 3 Bradford & Bingley 18
Scores: Bradford & Bingley 202 - 6 (33 overs) : Farsley 104 – 8 (33 overs)

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Perhaps the least said about this game at Wagon Lane Bingley the better as from the Rams' perspective because there was hardly anything positive to take from this reduced 33 over encounter which the villagers lost by a considerable margin of 98 runs.

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This could – indeed would have been different if the 'Bees' had not had Chris Thompson in their ranks because his hard – nay savage – hitting in making a possible once in a career 100 not out proved to be the difference, give or take a couple of runs, between the two sides.

Thompson, a former Horsforth CC Junior and son of the Pudsey St. Lawrence wicket keeper Steve Thompson, started his cricket life as a bowler who could bat a bit but the Rams soon found a role reversal had taken place as the all-rounder tore apart anything bowled at him.

The weekend's rain hit most of West Yorkshire games over the two days and this was reduced to a 33 over affair after a long delay in getting things started. The 'Bees' have ambitions to push hard for a top three place this season and they did well amassing a 202- 6 at tea, which was marginally more than a run a ball to those of our readers with few mathematical inclinations.

Thompsons 'ton' was obviously the highlight if their innings, his first 50 coming in 67 balls which is decent enough but his second 50 came in only 19 balls which is nigh obscene to anyone of a cricket connoisseur nature. It was a blitz to knock which is up there with the best in the terms of the League's fastest 50. Farsley's bowlers were not spared as cricket balls were dispensed from Thompson's flailing bat and no part of the ground was neglected, nor was the roof of the nearby rugby stand ot the fast flowing River Aire in Thompson's onslaught against Farsley's tortured bowlers. Rumour had it in the after – match clubhouse chat that one of Thompson's more destructive smite put an end to the lives of half a dozen trout and a couple of carp and reduced one poor and bewildered fisherman's riverside lunch box to mere matchwood.

Only young James Lee with a creditable 3 – 20 missed out on Thompson's tap and the latter's tea time nourishment must have tickled his palate as Farsley wondered how to overtake a 202 total in 33 overs against arguably the Leagues' best bowler – Aussie Richard McCarthy now in his twentieth season with the Wagon Laners.

The Rams' fear of a fourth defeat in this still young season were soon becoming a fact as wickets tumbled, mainly to McCarthy's skills at a nowadays, medium pace and only Ashley Metcalfe with a gritty 37 came to terms with the former Victoria State bowler. The likeable and popular McCarthy finished with another fine 4 – 28 shift as the Rams crumbled to a miserable 104 – 8, even West Indian Lorenzo Ingram, playing his first League game, playing on for a first ball duck.

After last week's fine victory over Manningham Mills , this setback was a tad unexpected but the Rams at least had the opportunity of getting back some pride next day when facing as yet unbeaten Baildon in this season's Second Round Priestley Cup.

Chris Thompson, no doubt, would be eagerly looking forward to the 'Bees' visit to second Division side Windhill, with a view to smashing a few more bowlers' hearts and perhaps a few house windows for the people unlucky enough to have their homes adjacent to Windhill's urban enclave