Manningham Mills v Farsley

Date: May 9, 2009
Venue: Manningham Mills
Weather: Mainly dry but cool
Result: Farsley won by 113 runs
Points: Farsley 20 Manningham Mills 6
Scores: Farsley 284 - 9 (50 overs): Manningham Mills 117 all out.

After their disappointing display against visitors Saltaire the previous weekend, the Rams turned in their best performance of the still early season with a fine 20 point victory at Manningham Mills, both batting and bowling elements coming together.

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Much of this first success can be accredited to a fine opening alliance between the evergreen Ashley Metcalfe (65) – his score not his age and newcomer Harpal Ryatt (45); Anderson and Clayton, each dropping down the order to accommodate the Ram's new opening pair.

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The two got the visitors off to a great 126 start and the confidence provided by these early runs on the board afforded an excellent platform for more runs from later batsmen, amongst who were skipper David Syers (46) and Shabir Rashid (48) who each showed some good technique and no little flair in adding valuable runs once Ash and Harpal had departed.

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A tea time total of 284 – 9 was always going to be a big task for the home side and the Rams followed up their impressive batting with some decent bowling, well led this week by Chris Henry 94-42) who looked more like his old self after being in disappointing form in parts of Farsley's first three games.

The home side were without ex-Surrey legend, Pakistan Test spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who was unavailable, whist the Rams had to function without their West Indian all rounder, Lorenzo Ingram who was due to arrive on the very day this report was being prepared which was straight after Church on Sunday May 10th.

Young Joe Greaves stayed in Farsley's side who also welcomed back Yorkshire Second Team quickie James Lee, Barry Frankland missing out due to his unavailability as Metcalfe and Ryatt began the visitors' innings in good style.

The only criticism of the Rams' innings was that they might have scored even more runs but for a cluster of lost wickets, aided by the usual dodgy LBW decision against unlucky Dan Clayton, cost them runs, albeit a total of 284 – 9 does represent a decent afternoon's work and one which sent Farsley to their "boiled ham sarnies" in a good frame of mind.

Ash has had a fine start to the season and his second half century on the bounce took the ex-Yorkshire opener to near enough 200 runs in his four innings which perhaps gives hope to all his followers that the 1000 runs in a season "Holy Grail" might still be attainable for the 45 year old legend. It is one of the ironies that this talented ex-County batsman has yet to achieve such a goal when other less accomplished players have done so.

Young Harpal Ryatt has the batting looks, too, of runs a plenty in his locker and his near half century bodes well for the season ahead whilst Shabbs and skipper Syers managed to cope very well on a far from perfect rain affected wicket, Qasim (4-78) and Jamal (3-62) doing the bulk of the home side's bowling and wicket taking.

Mills' reply never really came to terms with Farsley's probing attack and whist a brief stoppage for rain was a bit of a worry no overs were actually lost as Lee, Bozza, Ash and Akram held sway over the home batsmen. Chris Henry's wickets, alongside a couple apiece from Bozza and Ayyaz Akram, and a telling shift from Ash, albeit without a wicket in 10 overs for a paltry 31 runs, proved too good on the day the Manningham Mills' batsmen of whom only Islam (57) made much progress.

A margin of 113 runs and a 20 point haul sent the Rams home in a happy frame of mind and looking forward to next weekend's League and Cup encounters against Bradford and Bingley (away) and Baildon.

Members and supporters are reminded that the latter game is our home Second Round Priestley Cup Tie against the current Division One League leaders and unbeaten side, Baildon, complete with our ex-player, should be a corker of a match.