East Bierley – 2nd June 2012 (Match Report)
Posted - June 18, 2012
It might well be the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations weekend but there was nothing to celebrate as far as Farsley were concerned in this latest below-par performance. Having pinned the star-studded home side down to 66 for 5, the Rams allowed their hosts to recover to 244-9 which again proved far too many for the brittle Rams’ batting to challenge. Much of that recovery was due to a hard hitting not out big hundred from home batsman, and former Derbyshire County player Nick Walker who flayed anything and anybody who bowled at him. He was dropped a couple of times – once off a skier by Rams skipper Ian Philliskirk and later by the visiting keeper, but they were minor blemishes, albeit important ones as far as Farsley were concerned, in an otherwise quite astonishing display of selective hard-hitting batsmanship.
There were a couple of positives for Farsley from the game – Chris Henry found a new lease of life after being given the new ball again after Bierley won the toss and elected to bat, and demoted opener Mark Harrison, coming in at number four, found some form with a determined not out half century as the former Burley-in-Wharfedale skipper watched eight of his Farsley mates depart at the other end and for next to nowt apiece. His display might just persuade his skipper to try Mark again as the Rams opener as Andy Duckworth continues to struggle to find any sort of consistency since arriving at Red Lane for the 2011 season.
The few Farsley faithful to brave the weather recalled last season’s visit to South View Road when Enzo’s magnificent 151 not out in the Rams total of 266-8 was still not enough as home batsman Andrew Rennison also made a ton in the game to help Bierley overhaul a very decent Rams total. Enzo is missing now from Farsley’s ranks but the man he clattered for 32 in last season’s final over was here again and this time playing a key part in the Rams’ capitulation for a poor 130 reply, Kez Ahmed’s off spin bowling doing most of the damage.
Neil Laidlaw and the revitalised Chris Henry were soon into their stride and rocked their hosts – and a decent sized home following – with some early wickets, ex-England and Scotland captain Gavin Hamilton falling at 17 for 1, stumped off Henry after a bit of astute captaincy by Philli had brought the Rams keeper up to the wicket to Henry after spotting the former allrounder batting outside his crease. Big Neil then grabbed wicket number two with a ‘played on’ dismissal. Chris also grabbed wicket number three with a similar dismissal at 51-3, then gained a LBW on about his twelfth appeal to make Bierley 54 for 4.
Craig Thornton then pouched wicket number five – another one for Chris Henry – to put the Rams’ cat amonst the Bierley pigeons at 66 for 5 and the Farsley faithful at the ground felt like waving the many Union flags which were festooned around East Bierley’s well-tended headquarters. It would have been a premature act if carried out as that was as good as it got for a subsequent struggling Farsley attack. Bierley didn’t lose another wicket until their score had moved on to 144, Atkins (the former Baildon allrounder) and Nick Walker plundering nearly all and sundry bowled at them. Joe saw Atkins off at 144-6 but Walker went to his 50 out of 163 and eventually, to his hundred out of 226-8, the only highlight from Farsley’s point of view being a stunning outfield catch by Haroon Rashid which grabbed a ninth and final wicket as tea was taken with Bierley now well satisfied with their 244-9 total.
A few Farsley players’ heads were cast more at their size elevens than held high and the faithful were worried about the reaction to another mauling by the opposition. Apart from the aforementioned Mark Harrison – and perhaps a gritty cameo from Haroon Rashid – the Rams had little to offer in reply and duly went down to another heavy defeat.
Some abrasiveness entered the fray – and some bad light didn’t help the Rams’ cause – but after last weekend’s victory over Cleckheaton it looked like a case of back to the drawing board lads, because this was another performance well below what the team are capable of.
Boundary Edger
Match Stats
Scores: EAST BIERLEY 244-9 FARSLEY 130 ALL OUT
Result: EAST BIERLEY WON BY 114 RUNS
Points: FARSLEY 5 Opponents 20
Played at: EAST BIERLEY
Weather: CLOUDY AND COOL
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