1st XI Beat Moorlands In Nervy Run Chase

Javed Brothers Star In Top Of Table Clash

Rastrick XI kept a firm grip at the top of the Huddersfield League Jedi Championship in a home match against second placed Moorlands kindly sponsored by the Woodhouse Drinking Society.

Captain Olly Pearson won the toss and elected to field first, hopeful of extracting some assistance from a pitch still showing signs of moisture. He was rewarded by tight opening spells from Jordan Ghani and Wasim Javed. It was Ghani who made the breakthrough courtesy of an excellent catch from glove man Bradley Birkhead, who had to react quickly to take an inside edge. Wasim Javed took the next wicket, with the Moorlands skipper Fortis miscueing a pull shot to Olly Pearson at mid-on. Javed was the star with the ball, continuing his fine form with a brilliant spell of 3-11 off 10 overs. Rastrick's performance in the field was outstanding, with Mitchell McCoach taking two reflex catches in the gully, with Faisal Javed adding two fine catches at first slip. McCoach also chipped in with 3-17 and leading wicket taker Jack Pearson mopped up the tail with 2-18 as Moorlands folded from 91-4 to 107 all out with 17 overs still remaining.

After enjoying some quite outstanding teas presented by the Chairman's Mother, Rastrick made a poor start to their run chase with the early loss of McCoach. The bumper Round Hill crowd were then growing in confidence as Jacob Waterson and Faisal Javed began chipping away at the small total, but when Waterson was adjudged LBW for 15 the crowd started to get nervous. Javed played patiently at one end whilst watching a succession of regular wickets at the other end as Rastrick made heavy work of their pursuit. There were four LBWs in total as the Moorlands bowlers stuck to a disciplined line and length.

The crucial partnership seemed to be between Javed and the Rastrick number nine batsman, Olly Marsh. With the scores level and 3 wickets in hand, the game appeared to be in the bag but there was yet more drama to unfold as both batsmen fell, leaving the job to last man Jack Pearson. Pearson, who is an accomplished batsman of some promise, took a couple of sighters before deftly guiding the ball off the middle of the bat to the fine third man boundary to send the crowd into ecstasy and his team 7 points clear at the top of the table.

The action comes thick and fast next weekend as Rastrick visit Lascelles Hall on Saturday before hosting Linthwaite on Sunday in a crucial double-header weekend.