Your correspondent had never had the pleasure to visit East Leeds Cricket Club.

Indeed, not one of the Lightcliffe team and their support crew had ever visited what turned out to be a green oasis in the eastern industrial area of Yorkshire’s largest city.

On a pleasant afternoon, in the absence of Burts who stood down to allow the youth to play, Brookey called right and chose to bat. He also chose not to open which was looking a poor decision as two of the eight teenagers in the side departed quickly. Will Leach ,19, drilled one to cover and Lucas Arnot, 14, was unfortunate to play on.

9 for 2 after 20 balls, and the early season pace setters knew they were in a match. 15 year old Monty Ramsden joined 16 year old Isaac Morley at the crease. Before a run had been added, Monty edged a drive to gulley but the chance was spilled - this was to be a theme for the day!
An hour and a half later, East Leeds were still rueing that missed opportunity as Isaac, 28 not out off 92 deliveries and Monty, 74 off 75, brought up their century partnership. The pair then upped the tempo and the 3rd wicket partnership had reached 144 by the last ball of the 40th over when Isaac was caught out for 45. Isaac faced 122 deliveries in a 2 hour, 11 minute innings which included 5 x 4s and a 6.

Drew Russell joined Monty and quickly showed his intent whilst Monty was in the unusual yet familiar territory of being in the 90s. Having made 96 the previous Sunday for West Yorkshire Under 15s, he was deprived of the opportunity of his maiden century on Tuesday whilst captaining the Bradford Junior League Under 15s as rain forced an abandonment leaving Monty stranded agonisingly on 98 not out. However, he was not to be denied this time, as a straight drive from the 3rd ball of the 41st over enabled a single to be scampered to cap a fine week where he scored almost 400 runs!!

Having watched Drew club a 6 and a 4, Monty’s 2 hour 9 minute stay at the crease was over as he was caught at long off from the final ball of the 42nd over for 102 including 19 x 4s.

Former 2nd XI skipper David Knight joined Drew in the middle. The pair added 38 in just 3 overs with David drilling a fine pair of sixes out of the ground in his quickfire 20 off 10. Drew contributed 31 off 17 but when they departed in quick succession, the momentum slowed considerably but Lightcliffe had posted 230 for 8.

“Slightly above par,” mused Brookey as he went to tea slightly disappointed we had not secured the 4th batting bonus point.
East Leeds’ reply got off to a comical start when opener Hamid proved his Olympic sprinting days are over, damaging a hamstring whilst completing a sharp single forcing him to retire hurt.

Dost joined Hussain at the crease and quickly showed himself to be our major threat, out drilling David with a couple of exquisite straight sixes from a bemused looking Oliver Barrowcliffe, a young opening bowler who is showing so much promise this summer. When Dost became Drew Russell’s 3rd victim, you had the feeling the game was up. Drew bowled magnificently - his stats of 7-3-11-3 need no addition. His addition recently to the 2nds has been great for the young lads in the team as Drew plays with enthusiasm, encouragement and wants to win badly. Your correspondent believes he would have been causing another late night selection meeting, were he available this week…

Back to the match! East Leeds just would not go away and punished any poor deliveries and benefitted from at least half a dozen missed chances for The Villagers. The dropped catches ranged from the “how on earth did he drop that” to the “Sam would surely have taken that had Drew not assaulted him!!” Poor Sam, not only did he have 3 catches dropped, he ended with no wickets!! We were not fielding like league leaders.

Luckily though, as scores of 18, 14, 16, 20 and 42 show, plenty of East Leeds batsmen got going without making the big score the Lightcliffe innings had seen.

Oliver returned to clean bowl Shamoon Mushtaq for 20 and was simply too quick for Atta Bashir.

The final wicket, stumped by Monty, was Marcus’ 3rd of the afternoon and Monty’s fifth victim of the afternoon (2 stumpings and 3 catches) to complete a cricketing week he’ll never forget and may never better!! Regardless he’ll be there this Saturday aiming to make it 7 from 7 for Burton & Brookey’s table-topping boys.

The final word must go to Stuart, the East Leeds President, who works tirelessly along with his wife and daughter to ensure the club they love survive. For those who remember Brian Clough, Michael Hope and Geoff Hanson at Bowling Old Lane, Stuart and his family are created from the same mould - good luck to their efforts!! I have invited them to Till Carr Lane for the reverse fixture on Saturday 16th August - I do hope they come as I believe they need a day off watching their club without having to do the 101 jobs which are theirs, seemingly forever.

Match Report by Paul Ramsden