1XI MATCH REPORTS 2022
Saturday April 16, 2022 v Keighley at Lawkholme Lane
On a very sunny day, it was a delight to watch cricket on the well turned out ground at Lawkholme Lane and Congs supporters were not disappointed with a useful display to claim the maximum points.
Callum Oliver and Sabir Mahmood batted with care and attention and took every opportunity to score runs in an opening partnership of 45. Captain Jubb joined Oliver and with speedy running between the wickets and some classy shots from opener Oliver, the scorers were kept busy. Spinner James Massheder put the brakes on the run rate and dismissed Jubb in a good spell, well bowled. With a calm innings from Josh Bennett, Vinit Patel was able to play freely and he did with three sixes, not out 46, resulting in a good team score of 234. The score included 27 wides which were conceded under the new regulations to reduce negative tactics.
Before leaving to travel to the Red Rose County, I saw Ross Kettlewell take a smart catch at gulley from paceman Jamie Allen but missed the capture of Sam Wisniewski’s five wickets to complete the result we needed.
Good start everyone.
Saturday May 14, 2022 v Carlton at Amber Cars Britannia Ground
On beautiful Summers day, on a flat pitch coupled with a lightening fast outfield, the two teams served quality cricket and an amazingly close tense finale as Congs took the winning points from the final ball of the match, just past 1900 hours. Phew.
A fine opening spell by Adam Pearson claiming 3 top batters and ended with figures of 4 for 41. Sam Wisinewski bowled 15 overs of wrist spin 2 for 39 and fellow spinner Ryan Heptinstall 1 for 33 also in 15 overs. Good cricket. A brilliant piece of fielding and fast accurate return to keeper Bennett by Yohan Mendis gained Congs a welcome unexpected run out. Carlton battled hard throughout the 50 overs finishing with a late rally at 169 for 9.
In reply Congs Captain Richard Jubb held the innings together with a score of 44 from 121 deliveries and Josh Bennett supplied the necessary acceleration with a fine innings of 37 from 31 balls. Joe Stolarski showed guts with defiant innings after receiving a blow on the helmet in a University match midweek. A few moments of panic then overcame our tailenders before a leg bye from Liam Stanhope and a cool push for one by Ryan Heptinstall in the final over ended the anguish of the home crowds supporters!
A really good game of cricket and a surprise that in such perfect batting conditions the highest individual score was 44. That statistic shows how well both sets of bowlers performed.
Well played.
Saturday May 28, 2022 v Wrenthorpe at Bragg End Lane
It is very pleasing to report on a very strong batting display which ensured a comprehensive 8 wicket win over Wrenthorpe.
Captain Richard Jubb and Yohan Mendis shared an unbroken partnership of 123 for the second wicket after Callum Oliver started the innings with an attractive knock of 36. Batting with care and patience, yet punishing the poor delivery, it was a good advertisement for ‘bat as long as you can’ devotees and both finished achieving their half centuries to complete the victory.
Wrenthorpe throughout their innings scored at a brisk rate with Shakir outstanding with 54 (7x4 & 2x6) yet the top individual performance of the match came from Congs Vice Captain, Ryan Heptinstall, who in 11.5 overs took 5 for 27 with his left arm spin on a pitch that generally favoured the batters, well bowled.
From the spectators point of view it is painful to report on the number of wides in the match, both teams totalled 52! Come on boys.
T20 - Tuesday June 7, 2022 v Farsley at Amber Cars Britannia Ground
On a perfect summers evening, Pudsey Congs delivered an almost perfect performance in the first game of the T20 competition.
Barring a couple of fumbles in the field, the bowling, fielding and batting were outstanding, In the field every fielder knew his role and quickly got into position when the situation changed but without the Captain having to direct or remind them of the change, as a result the batters were always under pressure. An efficient unit. Timby scored 70 not out for Farsley but was kept largely under control particularly by spin as Heptinstall and Wisniewski (2 victims) only conceded 37 runs in eight overs. Congs only bowled one wide in an excellent all round effort.
Oliver and Mendis started the reply brightly. Mendis played himself in while Oliver was out for 28, all scored in boundaries! All rounder Chopra kept the scoreboard ticking along as Mendis unleashed his array of shots to finish on 58 not out (7x4 & 1x6).
Very well played everyone.
Saturday Aug 20, 2022 v East Bierley at Southview Road
A tricky fixture against a club rich in the Bradford League highest traditions presented itself on a good pitch in our quest for promotion.
We did not start well with runs flying off the bats of Duckworth and Gatenby in a rapid opening stand of 79 then Jamie Allen took two quick wickets before three more fell leaving the home side 84 for 5! Spinners Heptinstall and Wisniewski had got stuck in and between them when the innings closed had captured 8 wickets for 76, Heptinstall miserly, Wisniewski extending his lead as leading wicket taker in Division 1.
Chasing 171 Oliver, Centurion last week, out first ball this week, that’s cricket for you but Mahmood and Jubb knuckled down to see off the dangerous Nisan Ahmed before Josh Bennett counter attacked with a quality innings of 39 (7x4) sharing a partnership of 81 with the classy, calm, confident Yohan Mendis 59 (10 x4) to clinch an important victory.
Congs stand second in the table with 307 points against nearest rivals Carlton 295.
Bring it on!
Saturday August 27, 2022 v Birstall at Amber Cars Britannia Ground
Never before have we experienced a cricket season without rain cancellations. I hope we end our fixtures without such interference as we reach the next two deciding matches v Baildon and Jer Lane.
A weakened Birstall side fought well in the field with 30 overs of spin delivered by McCallum and Hasim Delmar which kept our batting line up in check until Yohan Mendis scored an unbeaten half century with nine boundaries making the crucial points certain. Again Josh Bennett showed his qualities in an innings of 13 from 53 balls to ease the tension.
Bowling first, Congs were delighted to capture the wicket of the legendary Eric Austin for a duck as Patel induced an edge from the bat to provide the aforementioned Josh Bennett the first of his six victims behind the stumps in the game (4 caught & 2 stumped) , well played. The spinners kept the score in check until remarkably Rishi Chopra popped up and took 5 for 5 in 19 deliveries ending all that was left of the visitors batting line up. Thankfully we achieved 19 points and march on.
I then proceeded to Fulneck to catch the final overs of our response to Baildon's 244 to be met by Matthew Humpleby who was disappointed in our efforts closing at 195 but no doubt he recovered as we had secured 17 wins and therefor becoming Dales Council Division 3 champions! This is a terrific effort as our Dales team rarely turn up with the same eleven each fixture due to injuries and absence of anyone of our 33 players who turn out each weekend, an achievement well earned and deserved.
Saturday September 3, 2022 v Baildon at Jenny Lane
Our run of victories continued with a 5 wicket win at Jenny Lane as spin dominated both our first team bowling result and also Vas Rajagopalan capturing 4 for 34 in 15 overs to consolidate our position in the Second Team Premier League of 6th, good effort.
Back to Baildon with Wisniewski 5 for 39, Heptinstall 2 for 25 and Chopra 3 for 38 keeping a tight grip on a pitch, giving the bowlers a degree of assistance, with only former Congs skipper James Ford compiling a solid innings of 55 from 115 balls. Well supported by a top fielding effort, we looked like a team who mean business.
Amid a glut of extras, not by PCCC I hasten to add, Oliver fell lbw and trudged off but Jubb 31 and Mendis 42 got us moving steadily forward towards victory when the loss of three wickets rattled the cage of some of our supporters. However Josh Bennett again showed his calm assurance to score the winning runs with a neat boundary to fine leg, phew.
With a lead of 11 points over third placed Carlton CC, we have every opportunity to grasp the prize of promotion.
Very well played everyone.
Saturday September 10, 2022 v Jer Lane at the Amber Cars Britannia Ground
After a run of nine winning performances, Pudsey Congs completed an emphatic second victory over Champions Jer Lane to secure promotion to the Premier Division of the Bradford League.
As the season progressed, confidence increased in the individual performances but most impressively as a team. Captain Richard Jubb created an atmosphere which lifted each players confidence and performances. Jamie Allen set the standard, returning to bowl after injury and he bowled his longest & best spell of the season finishing with 4 for 33 in 13 overs, excellent. Supported by Adam Pearson and a lively fielding display, Jer Lane were never allowed to settle. Left arm spinner Ryan Heptinstall entered the fray taking 5 for 8 in 5.3 overs, quite remarkable, as the visitors collapsed to 96 all out! Division 1 leading wicket taker Sam Wisniewski was hardly required for once as the entire eleven were buzzing, finishing with exactly 100 bowling points.
Callum Oliver and Sabir Mahmood were in no mood to lose the initiative although Mahmood fell early. The 16 year old has made good progress during the season both at the crease and in the field. Fittingly Captain Jubb was in at the end as Oliver finished the task with 60 not out (7x4,1x6) as, amid much excitement and celebration, the Congs marched in to the Premier Division.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Laprocina)
Later in the afternoon as the team, still in their whites sat on the edge of the square as scorer Danny Stevanato stood conducting the discussions.
Well played all, brilliant.
