Sowerby beat Queensbury in the shield

With skipper Gavin Clarke out injured Lee Barber stepped up to the mark, and finished with a match winning 117 not out to beat lower division side Queensbury in the first round of the Crossley shield.

Queensbury winning the toss, decided to bat. Phil Sharples batted through the innings for 101 not out, but lost partners at regular intervals with on M Bruce, J Kirkby and J Rankin the only others to get into double figures. Patrick Lennon and Younas grabbing 2 wickets a piece and Chris Punda with the last one as the Old Guy Road side finished on 207-5.

In reply Sowerby struggled early on, losing 2 quick wickets to first innings centurion Phil Sharples. Younas bowled for 11 and Paul Bellinger caught by Naylor for 4. Jez Cooke in at 3, hit 4 fours before becoming Clough's only victim caught by Kirkby. Barber had already at this point started accumulating his runs and was joined by Craig Patrick, who hit 3 fours and a six, before being caught by Naylor off Smith. Chris Punda didn't last very long, caught by Wells off the bowling of A Bruce for 1 bring Pat Lennon to the crease. Barber and Lennon saw the game home despite both being dropped. Barber finished the game in style with 3 sixes in three balls, the first one bringing up his century and Lennon hitting 5 fours and a six in an unbeaten 33.

With Sowerby Bridge, Thornton, Shelf Northowram, Blackley, Triangle and Booth among the teams left in the draw and Mount beating Warley there will be plenty of tricky teams left in the hat, however we look forward to see who we draw in the next round.