A day at the cricket—22 June 2024

Brian Sanderson takes in Woodlands v. New Farnley

This is the first in what we hope will be a series of personal accounts by cricket fans or players of their days in the sun this season. If you’d like to contribute, leave us a comment below, and we’ll get in touch.

The Bradford Cricket League, founded in 1903, now comprises 47 clubs. Today it is called the Bradford Premier League. Although the two sides I went to see today joined the league relatively recently, both have been very successful. Hosts Woodlands, who started the day third in the table, became members back in 2001, having previously appeared in the Bradford Central League and the Central Yorkshire League. The visitors, New Farnley, joined in 2013 after playing in the Dales Council and then the Central Yorkshire League. They were in second place.

It took me some ninety minutes by car to get from Leeds to the Albert Terrace in Bradford, where Woodlands play their home games. The ground slopes from west to east, and is lined with trees—apart from the bottom, where you find the clubhouse and the football nets which help to finance the cricket, and from which a good breeze was blowing.

Although the sun was shining, the crowd at the start was disappointingly sparse, but it filled up gradually during the day. My son had observed on our way down that we were on the eve of Len Hutton’s birthday, which got me thinking: When Sir Leonard played in this league, with Pudsey St Lawrence back in the Thirties and Forties, the crowd would have been at least 400…

Admittance was £3 for a regular ticket, £1.50 for senior members, so three of us could take in top-league cricket for just £4.50—excellent value. The gateman handed us two programmes, complete with team sheets and local cricket news. I wish more clubs would issue these physically, instead of pointing you to your mobile phone.

New Farnley opened the batting. Their New Zealand overseas star Cam Fletcher was not playing, as he was in the Derbyshire T20 squad. This was a big blow, but they were able to put together an opening stand of 86 against steady bowling. Knowledgeable fans predicted they would reach 275 in their fifty overs.

But then Brad Schmulian, the New Zealand state player, came on with his fast leg breaks. These strangeled the run rate and yielded an easy catching chance, which was put down. The lucky batsman, Aiden Langley, was on 42. A local lad, brought up through the club, he went on to score a fine 116, including three sixes, as New Farnley finished on 240 for six. On what looked a flat wicket, the consensus held that this was about thirty runs short.

Schmulian was the leading wicket taker, with three for 66 in fifteen overs (the maximum a bowler may bowl in these matches). Another highlight was the direct hit to run out Yasir Abbas. Schmulian, inevitably, was the fielder responsible. He is also Woodlands captain, and under his guidance the club has won many good matches.

After a thirty-minute break, Woodlands began their innings, hoping for a good start. It was at this stage that we learnt that New Farnley captain and opening bowler Alex Lilley was unable to bowl due to injury. As their star spinner Gurman Randhawa was also out, the odds were stacked against New Farnley.

The irrepressible Brad Schmulian and Tim Jackson put on 161 for the first wicket in just 28 overs, and Woodlands went on to win by six wickets. Schmulian naturally top-scored with 93.

It was great to be out in the sunshine again after being kept in last Saturday by rain. With the help of my mobile phone, I can report that Jer Lane, currently the league leaders, lost their fixture to Methley by 53 runs. Woodlands thus move into second, closing the gap to just five points.

Next week, in fact, Woodland plays Jer Lane. You’ll guess where I’m going to be (subject, of course, to the English weather)...

Brian Sanderson is an ACS member. He serves on the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee.