Idle v Farsley

Date: Saturday, June 22
Scores: Farsley 167 – 6 : Idle 119 All out
Points: Farsley 17 – Idle 3
Venue: Idle Cricket Club

A battling performance from a determined Farsley turned what looked like a probable defeat into a resounding victory at Cavendish Road to leave the Rams in pole position at the half way stage of a thrilling Second Division Season.

The Rams fought back from a disastrous 21 – 4 score line to post a challenging 167 – 6 on a wicket that had been used only hours earlier in a Junior game and which, if the truth be known, did little justice to a top Bradford League table clash as batsmen struggled to cope with both a gale force wind and a pitch of variable bounce.

The two teams, like every other in the League, had suffered from abandoned games the day before and were at strength for this vital promotion chasing clash, Idle winning the toss and electing to bowl first in conditions far more suited to kite flying than playing cricket. The Rams opening pair of Anderson and Clayton both struggling against the spearhead of Mahmood and bespectacled Rasool and it was not long before both themselves and two of their top order colleagues were back in the pavilion – Clayton going LBW, Anderson clean bowled, Shabbs caught at cover and Ingram snapped up in the slips, Farsley 21 – 4 before the tea time pork pies had even arrived!

Idle skipper Danny Shuffe was being hailed by the Idle watching faithful as Ashley Metcalfe and skipper David Syers began to fashion a recovery as the Rams still struggled to get the ball off the square at 33 – 4 after 20 deliberating overs. Ash greeted the first change of bowler Andy Marshall with a belligerent 6 but drinks arrived at 48 – 4, a score which stayed the same for another two overs as Farsley battled their way back into the game which was going well in Idle's favour.

The gale force winds and the uneven bounce were proving most difficult batting conditions the Villagers had had to contend with all season. But Ash and the skip are already experienced in "backs to the wall" batting and the pair simply magnificent as runs were squeezed out at any and every available opportunity against an attack labelled as the best in the Division.

With ten overs remaining, Farsley were still only 99 – 4, a long way from their before the match ambitions but still lin better health than their 21 – 4. Ash went to another 50 for the club out of 117 – 4 before holing out to the boundary edge soon afterwards at 122 – 5 after an alliance of 101 runs but David stayed the course even better and although Will Kitchen soon departed to a magical run out piece of work, the skippers and Barry Frankland's sound little cameo of an innings added a further 34 runs after big Will had left to bring tea at 167 – 6.

The skipper's 77 not out was further proof, if any was needed, of his considerable batting talents which he matches with strong determination to win, his team mates were thankful for both qualities at the half time break when even the Idle diehards were worrying themselves into drink as they contemplated a total which was now big enough challenge on a wicket of doubtful quality.

After his own and Ash's batting heroics the skipper had every right to expect his bowlers to perform well now that the game was in the balance but, frankly, some of Farsley's early overs from the usually reliable threesome of Henry, Thornton and Lumb., were simply dreadful and Idle got off to a flying start after Barry Frankland had spilled a half chance at point off Bozza Thornton in only the second over.

Chris Henry was possibly trying too hard – he was certainly trying to bowl too fast – and Bozza and Lumb were making little impression until Boz eventually gained an LBW decision at 54 – 1 to get the Rams, at last, on their way but with the leaders now again looking in charge of proceedings. The gale like conditions were causing problems on all fronts and if there are a Guinness Book of Records for the number of times the bails were blown off the wickets, this match would surely qualify to make an entry at the highest level.

Gale or no gale, Enzo's entry into the attack again changed the course of the match when big Lumb pouched a brilliantly taken low catch near the edge to give the West Indian his first wicket of the afternoon, which then followed by gaining an LBW decision to put the Rams back in the game, Idle 71 – 3. Henry tried his luck – again unsuccessfully – at the scoreboard end but Metcalfe's introduction at 80 – 3 was another master stroke – albeit a slightly delayed one – by skipper Syers.

Ash was quickly into mode when clean bowling number 6 and drinks were taken with skipper Shuffe at the crease at a wobbling 82 – 4. Idle's reputation for being a better bowing side than a batting one now surfaced as Enzo pouched a great "c and b" 95 – 5, which became 95 – 6 when Shabbs held a swirling ball, again on the edge off Ash with the Rams now sniffing the sweet aroma of victory

There were plenty of overs remaining – 20 of them in fact – as the 100 came up but another LBW in Ash's favour brought Idle to 103 – 7 and yet another one from Enzo had the home side almost down and out at 108 – 8. Farsley's catching had been exemplary all afternoon and Chris Henry added to the tally with another fine effort as the home side collapsed to a final 119 all out, Ashley Metcalfe (5-16) gaining his second 5 wicket haul of yet another successful campaign for the Farsley stalwart. Enzo Ingram's own 4 proved what a fine recruitment this young man has been to the Club and the Rams now hold top spot in Division Two as they enter the second half of another season with a home game this Saturday (June 28th) against Bankfoot.

If the Rams can get Shabbs, Dan and Harvey back into some runs, then the prospects for a quick return to Division One look good but the Fat Lady has not yet gargled let alone burst into song and will be revealed inside the next eleven League encounters.

Fans are reminded about Sunday's (June 29th) home Priestley Cup Tie agaist First Division Bowling Old Lane starts at 1.00 pm.

At the half stage the top four are Farsley 154 points, Idle 144 points, Keighley 143 points, Undercliffe 135 points.