Woodlands CC v Farsley CC


Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009
Played at: Woodlands CC
Weather: Dull and damp
Result: Farsley won by 49 runs
Points: Farsley 18 Woodlands 5
Scores: Farsley 190-9 (35 overs): Woodlands 141 (32.5 overs)

Farsley produced one of the shocks of this still young season by taking on and beating four-time-on-the-trot Division 1 champions Woodlands on their own ground in a reduced 35 over-a-side entertaining game after heavy overnight rain had played havoc with West Yorkshire Cricket.

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The Rams turned the form book upside down with only their second victory of the season and the result moved them out of the dreaded bottom two relegation spot for the time being, at least.

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It was once again the bowlers who out performed the batsmen, this time doing most of the batting as well as the bowling with James Lee, Chris Henry, 'Bozza' Thornton and Lorenzo Ingram with the ball, and the former three also with bat.

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James Lee, fresh from his Yorkshire second's fine win earlier in the week when he had a '5-for' return against Leicester Seconds – when incidentally Joe Root (161 not out) and Jonathan Bairstow (202 not out) set a new record partnership of 358 for any wicket for Yorkshire Second X1 Championship Cricket – made a magnificent hard hitting half century which delighted the shivering crowd.

Fellow bowlers Chris Henry and 'Bozza' Thornton then enjoyed a last wicket alliance of 69 precious runs to shock the home side's near County standard bowling attack in taking the Rams from a vulnerable 121-9 to a tea time 190-9 and 3 very valuable batting points. Such a score, made in their allotted 35 overs, presented a distinct challenge to the Woodlands side who have stuttered to defeat on the previous occasions already this season in their attempt to land a fifth successive Division 1 Championship.

This fourth defeat leaves Woodlands already 62 points behind unbeaten leaders Baildon and, surly, already out of this season's race.

This eventual result was not one of unbridled team effort because Farsley's lack of runs from their established batsmen must still cause concern. Jamaican 'Enzo in particular, has not really got started since his arrival and other inconsistent batting performances from the Rams' top half have left the Villagers still with much to do to pull their season together but they do look like a side punching below their weight.

Jimmy Lee, in his short time at the club, has already promised to demolish some club's bowling attack and his assault on arguably the best in the League on their day, was an exhilarating exhibition of good clean hitting, and he received warm and well earned applause on his departure after the entertaining half century as a Ram player has produced for quite a while.

'Bozza' and Chris known as capable late order batsmen when they set their minds to the task and their last wicket partnership of 69 valuable runs was as good as any Rams supporter can recall.

It was their respective performances which proved to be largely the difference between the two sides when the final reckoning came and the Rams players, for once, went home with smiles on their faces. Chris's 35 not out and 'Bozzas' 27 not out, allied to James Lee's own 50 provided more than half of the Villagers' runs and atea time 190-9 had a few home supporters saying this total would be to many for a sometimes to brittle batting side who rely, in the main, on their potent attack for the bulk of their points and in wining a 4th Championship in succession. So it proved.

Once the Woodlands' opening partnership of 68 (Sam Frankland 43) had been broken, things went Farsley's way, 'Enzo (3-23) and 'Bozz' (3-37) making inroads and three wickets in the middle of the innings to the lively Lee (3-47) killed off the home side's victory hopes.

Woodlands fans must be pondering over their early season form and wondering what has happened to their previously most unbeatable side.