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Top flight status all but assured for North Leeds
North Leeds C.C. 1st XI took on local rivals Kirstall Educational at the weekend. Read match report here.
North Leeds batted first in this local derby that usually conjures up a fiery atmosphere between two competitive teams. Returning from an extended vacation, young Tim Jackson started well with Martin Kellaway and the opening pair looked settled against some friendly bowling.
Kellaway was bowled by a good ball, bringing James Goldthorpe to the wicket. After smashing a couple of trademark fours, Goldthorpe's poor run of form continued and he was unlucky to drag the ball onto his stumps. Rob Winter, who bowled so magnificently in the previous game, then got the wrong end of yet another bad decision and this brought Nigel Baker to the crease to face his old team, and he went about his business as usual clocking up 30 runs in no time.
The wheels then fell of, with Baker, Jackson & the returning Tim Cooper all losing their wickets in quick succession. A period of consolidation between Steve Wales and little Liam Gray steadied the ship, but having got a start Gray was out and was quickly followed by Singleton, Richardson and White. 199 All out, and the school report would have said should have done better.
With a strong batting line up, flat wicket, small ground and fast outfield, a target of 200 was never going to be enough and though Nick
Richardson and Steve Wales bowled well, and Barry Singleton produced some wicket-taking deliveries, there were too many bad balls which players like Joss Siddall thrive on. Kirkstall's batters looked in trouble against the turning ball, but Singleton bowled too many loose deliveries mixed in with the good ones and 200 proved to be nowhere near enough for the North to defend.
With three games remaining, the North are 17 points clear of the relegation battle and with a maximum of 6 points for a win it is almost a certainty that after a disappointing status we will retain our top flight status.
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Weather for Leeds
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
