HUDDERSFIELD Under 13s launched their Lord’s Taverners campaign with impressive victories over Bradford and Sheffield.
Bradford were crushed by 88 runs at Almondbury Wes before Sheffield suffered even more heavily, being defeated by 104 at Denby Dale.
Strong all-round team performances were the key to victory on both occasions.
Batting first at Kaye Lane against Bradford, Huddersfield were given an excellent start by Paddock’s Siraj Sajid (32) and Clayton West’s Josh England (35), who put on 84 for the first wicket in 18 overs, before the Bradford slow bowlers tightened things up and started taking wickets.
Huddersfield were reduced to 123-5 before Meltham’s Jack Hinchliffe (46no) and Golcar’s Mohammed Ali batted sensibly, taking their singles and putting bad deliveries away to enable their side to finish on 208-6.
Bradford had a steady start, reaching 72-0 after 20 overs, but after that they fell away against some fine fielding which produced three run outs.
They were finally bowled out for 130, with Upperthong’s Sam Hobson (2-16), England (2-19) and Kirkheaton’s Nathan Swift (2-22) doing the damage.
At Denby Dale, Delph’s Nathan Jones was back from county duty to score an unbeaten 88 against Sheffield and, with backing from Ali (32), Huddersfield totalled 212-8 in their rain-reduced 35 overs.
Jones and Ali shared a superb stand of 100 after England and Alec Jakeman had played carefully in the early stages.
In reply, Sheffield scored freely against the openers but the early introduction of spin from Sajid brought reward with two quick wickets.
Huddersfield maintained their sound fielding from the previous day and kept switching bowlers, with wickets falling at regular intervals to put Sheffield well behind the rate. With drizzle returning, they were bundled out for 108 in the 31st over.
Huddersfield are facing Leeds – who have also won two matches – at Altofts in a ‘winner takes all’ qualifying clash.
