Scholes Cricket Club: Scholes C.C.:156 - Shepley:174

  Scholes C.C.:156 - Shepley:174 Back to Games & Reports
  Teams: Score:      
  Scholes C.C. vs 156      
  Shepley 174      
Game Played 7/4/2009 1:30PM  

Shepley complete treble
Scholes (156 for 9) lost to Shepley (174 for 9 by 18 runs
Shepley’s whip hand over Premier League leaders Scholes continued on Saturday as they beat the Chapelgater’s for the third time this season, as their previous two wins in the Heavy Woollen cup and Examiner 20/20 competition were followed up by a deserved 18 run victory in the League. The fact that Scholes’ lead at the top of the Premiership remains a healthy 12 points following the unexpected demise of Elland at home to Slaithwaite, should not paper over the cracks slowly emerging in James Noble’s side, and they will know themselves they need to bat with more resolution and field to a higher standard than recently shown to maintain their title challenge. That said, it’s already been a remarkable and unexpectedly successful season for Noble’s eclectic blend of experience, youthful exuberance and Aussie winning mentality, and the roller coaster ride that the last twelve fixtures will surely provide should be an enjoyable journey for all Scholes supporters to savour.
The winter recruitment of SP Singh, Ranjaith Bandula and the ebullient Grenville certainly strengthened Shepley for this term, although losing the talented Tom Denton to Huddersfield Town for the rest of the season is a blow to Danny Glover’s men. Losing the normally rock solid Singh for only 10 early on to a hideous run out was the last thing they needed, and when Haigh (2) was caught off a skier off his own bowling by Alsop and Rees (0) edged a loose drive off the same bowler to Holmes Shepley were in dire straits at 27 for 3. Hoyle (31) stood firm with the purposeful Grenville until the former’s stumps were shattered by the deserving Mott, and the fast bowling all rounder then formed another effective alliance with skipper Glover, until he was somewhat surprisingly adjudged lbw to Alsop, and he left the pitch at a funeral march in a forlorn protest at the injustice of it all. Bandula (6) was well caught at mid on by Smith and Brothers threatened briefly with his hard hit 16, but when Glover was nicely caught high above his head at square leg by Khan for a high quality 35 the visitors were stranded on a sorry 129 for 8 in the 41st over. On the sidelines Shepley stalwart “Ernie” was still incandescent with indignation and venting steam aplenty in the direction of the umpire who made the Grenville decision, but his rage subsided in the next half hour as experienced wicket keeper Sullivan and youngster Sam Denton mounted what turned out to be a match winning mini recovery that ensured the visitors finished with a respectable 174 for 9. Scholes failed to press home their advantage, as the bowling looked tired, and fielding standards dropped again as Denton was badly missed when still in single figures, but most of all they lost focus on the job in hand, perhaps believing that victory was already guaranteed. Sullivan made a crucial 19 and Denton a fearless undefeated 28 as Shepley posted a total that would challenge the fragile Scholes batting against such a varied and talented attack. Mott was patently unlucky to collect only a brace of victims, Shahnawaz accurate and economical for his 2 for 29 off 14 overs, and once again Alsop superb for his 4 for 60 off 18.
Grenville hurtled in down the Scholes slope determined to extract his revenge as the Scholes reply began, following through to within inches of the batsmen, and sending enough choice advice their way to be eventually warned by Umpire Tindall. And yet it was the impressively precise Glover who got rid of Noble and Khan for only one run between them, as the former was adjudged caught behind, and the latter edged a snorter to first slip where Rees took a blinding one catch. Latif and Smith re-built for Scholes, and it took the introduction of Bandula, deceptively quick with a whippy arm to put the visitors firmly in charge. Smith (26) was safely taken by Rees off a lifting delivery, and two balls later Sykes was trapped in front. Latif (24) was skilfully stumped by Sullivan when lifting his foot for a micro second after missing another Glover delivery. Scholes hopes were still alive with Mott at the crease, but Brook didn’t hang around for long, and when the Australian edged Bandula to Sullivan having compiled a spirited 36 the leaders were in deep distress. Alsop (17) looked in the mood until hitting Bandula straight to Denton at cover, Shahnawaz was brilliantly caught millimetres from the boundaries edge by Rees, and it was left to the composed Clayton (25*) and Holmes (8*) to see Scholes safely to a point on 156 for 9. Glover was excellent for his 4 for 53 off 19 and Bandula had an impressive 4 for 64 from his 17 over spell.
Scholes II’s also lost to Shepley, but in a much tighter game altogether. Scholes were delighted to make 223 for 9 after being 95 for 5, as Mark Wimpenny (39) Floyd (38) and Marsh (42) all made valuable contributions, and Dearnley took 5 for 53 for the home side. Rob Denton (62) and youngster Adam Carter (80) were superb in taking Shepley to the brink of victory before late wickets began to tumble, and it was left to Earnshaw the Younger to complete his dad’s day by hitting the winning four in the penultimate over to secure a nail biting one wicket win as Scholes slipped to five points behind Kirkburton at the top of the Premiership 2 table.
Special Scholes despatches should also be made to the Under 15 team who reached the final of their Cup with a fine win over Broad Oak in the semi final at Chapelgate on Friday night. The Oak made 119 from their 20 overs with Yorkshire keeper and Joe Lumb player Eddie Wilson making 30 - the slow left arm of Joe Wood proved mightily effective for Scholes as he picked up 2 for 15 from his 4 overs and Eden Pearson chipped in with 2 for 12. Scholes replied positively and once the exceptional Wood retired with a sparkling 35 and Jake Clayton continued his rich vein of form with an undefeated 33 the result was never in doubt. Guy Pearson spanked a quick 21 and Tom Boorman (19*) finished the game with a flourish with a six over midwicket as Scholes won with several overs to spare.