Cleckheaton CC v Farsley CC

Date: Saturday 12th September 2009
Venue: Cleckheaton CC
Weather: Sunny
Result: Clekheaton won by 39 runs
Points: Farsley 5: Cleckheaton 18
Scores: Cleckheaton 185-9 dec (50 0vers): Farsley 146

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A late batting blitz from number 9 Chris Henry (52) and number 10 'Bozza' Thornton (38 not out) lifted this end of season defeat from a ready-to-go-home score of 57 for 8 and, almost, a glimpse of what would have been yet another late, great, victory had they managed to pull it off.

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Their respective heroics didn't mask another much earlier batting display which had 'end of season' written all over it from Farsley but those spectators who stayed to the end saw Chris Henry, in particular, launch an attack on the 'Cleck bowlers such as not been seen previously this season.

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The home side's players were glad to see the back of the Rams' opening bowler at a time when he looked like he might win the game off his own flailing bat, 'Bozza' joining him in the late sunshine fun.

Both players earned their respective rich applause at the end of what turned out to be another entertaining encounter, 'Cleck winning the game by 39 runs after posting a modest 185-9 in their own innings, 'Cleck skipper John wood doing his own damage to Farsley's cricket balls with an earlier batting display not far behind that of Henry's later assault, 'Woody' top scoring in the match by scoring 71.

The Bradford League have more start times during a season than you find on a Wetherby Race Day Card and this 12 noon commencement had some visitors still finishing off their cornflakes when play got underway at a time which inconveniences everyone connected with the game. Why the League cannot simply reduce the number of overs in April and September is beyond this particular scribe. At least the weather was 'wall to wall' sunshine on this occasion and far removed from Farsley's 2008 season's last game when heavy rain put paid to any cricket at all in that match against Gomersal.

Last weekend's favourable results for these two sides meant there was nothing much more than a bit of pride to play for in this return encounter – the earlier game at Red Lane being the Rams' only 'abandoned' match of this wet summer, a number less than any other side in Division 1.

Cleckheaton took first knock, Farsley again without James (Dinger) Lee for reasons best known to himself because Yorkshire were without either a First X1 or Second X1 game today or in a few intermediate days to follow. Ryan Lumb came in for the County contract bowler and 'Mattie' Green came in for David Syers who both played in the previous Sunday in that fine, relegation saving victory at East Bierley.

Big John Wood got t he hosts up and running with two fours in Chris Henry's first over but next season's skipper elect then notched up his fiftieth League and Cup wicket of another personal successful season when 'keeper Harry Anderson held a nick off left hander Mark Cummings and 21 for 1 became 21 for 2 when Chris pinned 'Mally' Nicholson LBW, the Rams off to a good start.

'Bozza' got in on the act when ' Cleck's Pakistan Under 19's Test batsman Asif Khan was caught by 'Harps' at 32-3 but 'Woody' decided to give Chris some tap by hitting him for 4,6,4 in one over and before much longer the home 'skip had made 50 out of 52-3!!! The Farsley bowlers had by now began to inspect their own bootlaces and at drinks 'Woody' was enjoying himself no end at 80-3.

'Enzo was by now and soon disposed of Ian Nicholson in the game's 28th over at 97-4 and big 'Woody' then got out, mis-hitting to be caught by 'Enzo off 'Bozza's' bowling, the Rams were now looking a bit more perky with the home side at 97 for 5 albeit there were still 20 overs remaining and work to do, 'Woody's' innings by the way including 8 fours and 3 sixes.

In truth, once 'Woody' had departed, 'Cleck's remaining batsmen fell at fairly regular intervals however, only Vice-Captain Craig Thornton with 35 not out offering any meaningful resistance. Former County batsman, Neil Nicholson went LBW to 'Enzo, Ian Wood was caught, behind the sticks by Anderson, again off 'Enzo, who brilliantly held on to a catch offered by Tom Pringle off Ryan Lumb's bowling. Two dropped catches – one, believe it or not by 'Enzo – didn't cost runs, Chris finishing things off by re-arranging another set of timbers as the home side went to tea after making a useful but gettable 185-9. It might be this scribe's inattention to detail but it was hard to recall any 'Cleck batsman – other than 'Woody' – hitting a boundary in that total.

The West Indian bowler was once again Farsley's best bowler with a full shift of 15-2-43-3 giving him his 28th League and Cup wicket of the season at just over 17 runs apiece. 'Bozza' was not far behind with 15-3-48-2 and Chris did well again taking 3-56 from his 14 overs, three of which were maidens. Ryan Lumb's wicket cost him 27 from 6 useful overs.

Only Ashley Metcalfe (at Manningham Mills) had made half a century for Farsley whist opening the batting this season and there were no signs of this malaise being put right as the Rams again began an innings in very poor fashion. The Club's fourteenth different opening partnership of the season (today's short straw being Anderson and Green) were both quickly in to the showers as was 'Gazza' Phillips, Farsley 8 for 3!!!

'Harps' played on to lively Wardlaw at 24 for 4, 'Shabbs' was bowled at 39 for 5 and poor old Ash, who has hardly hit a cricket ball off a cricket square since June, went for a third ball duck to end a miserable season for the departing former County batsman, Farsley now a terrible 39-6. Anyone thinking things couldn't get any worse were well wide of the mark as Joe Greaves eased a catch to slip at47 for 7 and 'Enzo got himself well caught near the boundary edge for 24 to end his season still short of 400 runs League and Cup aggregate, Farsley 57-8.

There were ample signs of bags being packed, pints being finished off and people generally moving towards 'Cleck's well packed car park at this point of the game. Ian Wood having done most of the damage for the home side (he finished with a creditable but flattering 7 for 48) and his fellow 'quickie' Iain Wardlow not far behind with 3-28.

Chris Henry is no respecter of names or past performances when his fire burns brightly and he set about changing Farsley's batting profile of a poorly man to one of healthy cheer in no time at all. From that woeful 57-8 he and 'Bozza' either caressed (in 'Bozza's case) or simply hammered (in Chris's instance) an alliance of 75 runs to all parts of this well tendered ground and a few parts outside it too. Chris took a liking to Tom Pringle's leg spin after the latter had been introduced soon after the blitz began (a huge hit in to the adjoining Rugby field almost beheading a prop forward. Another six disappeared on to the west bound carriageway of the adjacent M62 motorway another made a bomb-like crater on one of Cleckheaton's two adjoining bowling greens much to the astonishment of those taking part in that old persons game. 'Bozza' also got in to the hitting mode with a mighty maximum of his own but mainly chose the scorched grass route, which is not Chris Henry's normal forte, to foster his cameo innings and when it all ended – as all good things do – the pair had royally entertained those still watching.
Henry's 52 included six sixes and three fours which tells its own tale when noted that his 50 came off only 20 balls and when he and Lumb also departed the Rams had been dismissed in 30 overs for a total of 146, 'Bozza' still there on 38 not out and looking like he could have made 138 if someone had stayed with him.

The club are planning several changes both on and off the field and no doubt these will be notified to readers once details and confirmations are available. Raymond Illingworth is taking over the Presidency of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, David Storr is proposing to return as Cricket Chairman, Chris Henry has been offered the First Team Captaincy, Nigel Thornton is returning as Club Secretary and overseas player Lorenzo Ingram has been offered terms again for next season which the club are hopeful will be accepted shortly.

Steve 'Simo' Simpson is returning from East Bierley, and David Syers is known to be in talks with one or two new players for next season.