A top-of-the-table clash
Brian Sanderson on the Bradford League
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On a cloudy morning today, I made my way to a local cricket match. The teams facing off were Wrenthorpe and Long Preston, competing in the third division of the Bradford League.
Wrenthorpe’s ground lies about a mile from the M1, nestled in Wakefield. Parking is scarce, but luck was on my side today: I managed to find a spot right outside the ground.
The club, established in 1894, had previously played in the Central Yorkshire League before joining the Bradford League in 2016. Their success has been remarkable, despite facing challenges when their longtime sponsor, the Kitchen firm, withdrew support three years ago. Nevertheless, they currently lead the league standings.
Great Preston, situated on the outskirts of Leeds near Kippax, only recently joined the Bradford League. They played in the Leeds league back in the 1960s.
Wrenthorpe won the toss and chose to field. Long Preston stumbled early, finding themselves 72 for four in the thirtieth over. Their recovery hinged largely on Oliver Scott Newton, who scored an impressive 96, including fourteen fours and a six. His valiant effort kept them in the game; they were eventually bowled out for 191 in the forty-sixth over. They had hoped for a higher total, given the challenging batting conditions. Rana Khan’s bowling stood out, with four wickets for 63 runs.
During Wrenthorpe’s innings, a slip fielder took a painful blow to the bridge of his nose. A ten-minute stoppage ensued as Long Preston substituted a fielder while the injured man received treatment. Meanwhile, Imran Dawood, Wrenthorpe’s wicketkeeper, put on a show, scoring 89 runs with thirteen fours and two massive sixes—one of which landed in a nearby garden. In the end, Wrenthorpe secured victory by six wickets.
Tomorrow brings us a cup final. A day of high stakes and thrilling cricket awaits!
Brian Sanderson is an ACS member. He serves on the Yorkshire Cricket Archives Committee. If you would like to contribute to this newsletter, please either respond to the email in which you received it, or leave a comment below.