Smiles all round as 3's beat Barkisland

Lightcliffe 3rd XI 124-3 beat Barkisland 123-6 by 7 wickets Halifax Sunday League Warhurst Cup Group C - Sunday 6th May 2018

The 3rdXI finally got their season going with victory in their final Group Cup game.
Whilst a “dead rubber” for the team (as 2 defeats had scotched their prospects of progress), defeat for Barkisland allowed Sowerby Bridge to sneak through to the Semi Finals.

Despite losing the toss, Lightcliffe made things difficult for a weakened Barkisland side. Josh Booth initially suffered the “Whiley” curse of creating catching opportunities unclaimed by his colleagues, but came back well for impressive figures of 2-8 from his 8 overs. John Eliot focused on the simple task of making his wicket keeper look incompetent (with a plethora of low bouncing leg side deliveries), but also forced mistimed shots from the batsmen to finish with 3 victims.

The mid innings was in truth a hot slog; Barkisland dug in but never got the run rate above pedestrian, whilst Lightcliffe struggled to break an 80 run 4th wicket partnership.

Ben Stringer, James Lunn and Anthony Ellwood all toiled for no reward on a slow pitch with a modicum of variable bounce, but which offered little for bowler or ironically Sunday Section batting. It was the final ball of Marcus Kelly’s 8th over that provided a catch to Bruce Lunn in the deep.

In reply, the brittleness of Lightcliffe’s batting was again exposed, as Coleman for the visitors ripped into the home side, who found themselves 5-2.

Credit then, to 14 year old Bradley Atkinson in his first innings for the senior side. Thrown up the order by the captain as a set of fresh lungs, and playing with his trademark smile, he batted methodically for 23 to compliment Marcus Kelly in a partnership of 83, which swung the game decisively for Lightcliffe.

Kelly (64no) increasingly dominated proceedings and aided by Booth Jnr (20no) comfortably completed a first win of 2018.

Footnote – the Wicketkeeper would like to apologise to the Team Room staff for any implication that they got the tea order wrong. He still alleges a forged entry on his part….!