Date: 10th July 2005     Venue: Cookridge Cricket Club

Home Team: Leeds West Riding Cricket League

Away Team: Dales Council Cricket League

Leeds West Riding collect deserved win

Leeds-West Riding collected a safe passage to the next round of the Yorkshire Inter-League Knockout Cup with a comfortable 86 run victory over the Dales Council Cricket League. Despite the unavailability of some of the originally selected players, the LWRCL produced some excellent cricket, mixing resilience with the bat, with efficiency in the field.After winning the toss, LWRCL captain Simon Danby decided to bat first in very hot conditions.

The entire top 8 batsman got starts, but then lost their wickets, to controlled Dales' bowling. Danby was the only top order batsman to push on and score an excellent 50. The left arm of Seehra, pinned the middle order back, but with useful contributions from Ian Jones, Simon Lonsdale, and Neil Bonnington, the LWRCL were able to post a respectable 159.

In the field the LWRCL were like a well-oiled machine, with skipper Danby leading from the front. Craig Piggott took the first wicket thanks to an excellent short-leg catch from Bonnington. Piggott continued to disturb the Dales Council batsman with his fast left arm bowling, allowing him to take two further wickets, one to a caught and bowled and the second to a stunning catch from Danby, dismissing Seehra for 0. Needing to steady the ship at 10-3, the Dales Council continued to panic, leading to opener Kirk being run-out by James Clegg running for a needless second run.

With Piggott continuing to take wickets, at the other end Simon Lonsdale pressed the batsman into submission, bowling 10 overs for just 10 runs with 6 maidens. At 21-6 the Dales Council had little chance of survival, with the spin duo of Paul Clark and Steve Wood pinning the batsman yet further into the mire. With the game virtually over, skipper Danby brought Piggott back into the attack, allowing him to collect his 5th wicket.

Leeds West Riding

Dales Council

LWRCL: S Danby* (Rothwell), T James (Caribbean), S Wood (Denby Grange), S Lonsdale (Garforth PC), N Bonnington (Cookridge), C Piggott, I Jones, J Clegg, L Doughty, P Clark, J Crossley+ (all Fairburn)

J Wood (scorer)