By Michael Latham
Blackpool's Richard Gleeson in action for
Cumberland |
Blackpool opening bowler Richard Gleeson became
the latest Northern Premier League cricketer to play Minor
Counties cricket when he made his Cumberland debut in the
three-day game against Suffolk at Sedbergh School.
The
Sedbergh School ground on a glorious summer's
afternoon |
Gleeson was called up late on Saturday evening
after Leyland all-rounder Luis Reece withdrew with an ankle
injury. The game is of vital importance in the Eastern
Division with Cumberland currently fourth and Suffolk topping
the table going into the last round of games. The winners of
the group qualify for the Minor Counties Championship Final
against the winners of the Western Division.
Three other current Northern League players were
in the Cumberland side: Morecambe's Ikram Ullah, Alex Atkinson
(Netherfield) and Jon Miles (Barrow).
After being invited to bat Cumberland made 354
for 9 in the maximum 90 overs allowed in their first innings,
Miles making 59, Atkinson 49 and Ikram Ullah 58. Miles and
skipper Gary Pratt (47) shared a third wicket stand of 113
after Cumberland lost their first two wickets for 24.
Barrow's
Jon Miles on his way to 59 against Suffolk |
After both were dismissed just before lunch
Ullah and Atkinson then posted 109 for the fifth wicket before
both batsmen were dismissed with the score on 250. Bradford
League cricketer Chris Thompson hit an undefeated 65 to take
Cumberland past full batting points.
Suffolk closed on 68 for 3 after 24 overs with
wicketkeeper Ullah taking three catches behind the wicket, two
falling to former Blackpool professional Marcus Sharp and the
other to Thompson. Gleeson bowled well without any luck in his
two spells.
Cumberland
CCC 2010 with Richard Gleeson (back row third from
left), Ikram Ullah (back row fifth from left), Alex
Atkinson (back row, sixth from left) and Jon Miles
(front row, first from left |
Meanwhile Barrow suffered an agonising defeat at
the hands of local rivals Furness in the final of the Cumbria
County Cup at Ernest Pass. Furness made 204 for 4 in their 40
overs with opener Glenn Capstick leading the way with 92 and
South African pro Neil Bredenkamp profiting from a missed
chance in the outfield on 10 to go on to 70.
Barrow lost key batsmen Greg Platten, Liam
Livingstone and Darren Clark early in their reply but pro
Pasan Wanasinghe led the recovery with 57 in partnership with
Graham Dawson who made 56. But Wanasinghe was bowled by Will
Chapples and Dawson bowled by Danny White and despite a
valiant 14 not out from skipper Daryl Wearing Barrow closed on
197 for 7.
Leyland stretched their lead at the top of
Division Two of the NPCL after a winning draw at Fleetwood in
the rearranged game. Leyland took seven points from the game
at Broadwater and now have a 21-points lead over Blackpool
with five games to play.
Danny Hall was top scorer with 31 as Leyland
were bowled out for 150 from the last ball of their 50 overs,
Joe Bell taking four for 22. Fleetwood closed on 115 for 8
with Steven Pallett taking three for 30 off 11 overs and
Stephen Cartwright two for 24 off 14 overs. Joe Bell completed
a fine all round game with 33.
RESULTS
League
Furness Building Society Northern Premier
Cricket League (in association with Readers Cricket
Balls)
Division Two
FLEETWOOD v LEYLAND
Leyland (7pts) winning draw; Fleetwood
(4pt
Leyland 150 (J Bell 4 for 22), Fleetwood 115
for 8
MCCA Eastern Division,
Cumberland v
Suffolk
at
Sedbergh School:
Day 1 of 3
Cumberland 1st Inns 354 for 9 (90 overs) (CA
Thompson 65no, J Miles 59, I Ullah 58, A Atkinson 49, GJ Pratt
47);
Suffolk 1st Inns 68 for 3 (24 overs)
Cumbria County Cup Final
at
Barrow CC
BARROW v FURNESS
Furness won by 7 runs
Furness 204 for 4 (G Capstick 92, N Bredenkamp
70), Barrow 197 for 7 (P Wanasinghe 57, G Dawson 56)
