Irwin Mitchell Sheffield Alliance Midweek Cricket League - roundup 11 July

Firstly, games to watch this week.

Prems - Collegiate v TOA at Abbeydale

Div A - Al-Mahdi v Aviva at HSBC, Dore

Div B - De La Salle v Meersbrook at Beauchief

Div C - Hollinsend v Ridgeway at Fox Lane

Last week’s shock result in the Premier Division was at Caribbean Sports Club, where Collegiate were defeated by Attock. Collegiate made 105-7 (A.Simpson 43, J.Castle 3-26). A fine opening partnership by J.Castle (47) and L.Ali (39) was enough to set up an Attock by 5 wickets (B.Fielding 3-15). With second placed TOA beating Darnall, this sets up the big game between the top two at Abbeydale this week. Sheffield Friends made an impressive 155-4 ((Y.Anwar 62*, I.Azam 32, B.Cornthwaite 3-30), Frecheville could only reach  99-6 (H.Farooque 3-14) in reply.

Al-Mahdi stay top of Division One by beating Nar Mando. Nar Mando were held to 97-3 (S.Iqbal 41*, I.Khan 35), Al-Mahdi went on to win by 5 wickets (S.Shah 31). Aviva were held to 71-7 (D.Andrews 4-13), Waterworks passing this with 7 wickets in hand to stay second in the Division. Norton Woodseats made a fine 134-3 (S.Rivzi 59, K.Loughlin 31). Outokumpo were restricted to 80-8 (M.Wright 34, A.Khayer 3-9). 

Division B leaders were deposed from the top spot after their defeat by Sharrow. Meersbrook totalled a fine 134-4 (I.Marshall 52). Sharrow replied with gusto, winning in the final over by 3 wickets (M.Rajib 31, T.Barney 3-28). De la Salle were kept to just 86 by Norton Oakes (P.Sear 4-24), but very tight DLS bowling, lead by S.Wainwright (3-5) and N.Howard (3-14), saw Oakes bowled out for a mere 62.

Hollinsend, hit a massive 165-4 (M.Parker 39*, R.Sharp 38), Dronfield Sports replied with 110-3 (F.Raja 34, R.Firth 33*). Hallam Lodgers scored just 79-4, Ridgeway, Division C leaders, eased to a 9 wicket win (R.Ravi 36*). TRS made 107-4 (I.Shah 59*, G.Lewis 3-12), Transport were shot out for 67 (A.Rehamn 4-20).

Irwin Mitchell Sheffield Alliance Midweek Cricket League - roundup 6 July

Firstly, games to watch this week.

Prems - Attock v Collegiate - Caribbean CC, Ecclesfield

Div A - Al-Mahdi v Nar Mando - Folkwood School

Div B - Meersbrook v Sharrow - Parkhead CC

Div C - Ridgeway v Hallam Lodgers - Ridgeway CC

Sheffield Collegiate racked up yet another impressive win and now head the Premier Division table by 5 clear points over nearest rivals TOA. Collegiate played Darnall last week and held them to 115-7 ((M.Banaris 35*, R.Shaw 3-25, M.Dixon 3-32). In reply Matt Simpson smacked 60 not out and Chris Stewart 33 in a comfortable 9 wicket win. TOA held struggling Caribbean to 94-8 (S.Miller 31, M.Ilyas 4-19), TOA passing the target after a struggle, losing 6 wickets, veteran Sam Gittens snaffling 3-28. Sheffield Friends were all out for 114, Jaco Castle picking up 5-26 and Farooq Alam 4-25. Asad Butt's 66 took Attock to a win by 7 wickets. Khan made 125-7, Frecheville falling well short to close at 76-6 (T.Abbas 3-19).

The title race in Division A is very tight, with only 5 points separating the top 5 teams. Al-Mahdi currently hold top spot after defeating Norton Woodseats in a rumbustious encounter off the very last ball. Set 106-3 to chase (N.Johnson 62*), M.Setty's 51 not out was just enough to earn a 4 wicket win. Nether Edge made just 86 all out with 3 wickets for D.Holmes. J.Hemmingway with 39 undefeated took Waterworks to a 8 wicket victory and second spot in the table. Outokumpo made a useful 129-5 (M.Wright 67*), but University Staff chased down the target with brio, to gain the win with 4 balls and 3 wickets to spare (N.Sanyal 38). Staff now move third in the division.

Meersbrook still hold a slender 2 point lead at the head of Division B over Kashmir. The Meerkats bowled out Woodhouse for 107 (D.Beresford 3-24), reaching the target with 3 down (D.Spilman 37*, D.Stow 30). Sharrow made 100-7 (N.Abdul 4-16) and Kashmir cruised to the win with 6 wickets in hand (N.Abdul 36*, K.Javed 34). De La Salle totalled 101-8 (B.Walton 3-4), but even this was too much for Richmond, who mustered just 49 ((J.O’Sullivan 3-13, N.Howard 3-19). De La Salle now move third. Telecom scored a very handy 143-4 (S.Richford 46, A.Broomhead 36, J.Dutton 32), but Norton Oakes opener James Winnard smashed 80 not out and with number 3 B.Wakefield contributing an undefeated 47, Oakes won by 9 wickets to maintain their outside chance of promotion.

Division C leaders brushed aside an 8 man TRS, bowling them out for 74 ((S.Shah 31) and going on to a 10 wicket win inside 6 overs (S.Woolley 58*). Hallam Lodgers made 103 all out (D.Mason 31, R.Sharp 4-25), Hollinsend blazing to the total within 8 overs (C.Jones 41). Hollinsend are second, 2 points behind, but crucially have a game in hand. Transport ran up 121-6 (J.Slack 49, K.Owers 49). Brincliffe successfully chased this down thanks to 41* from opener and captain C.Jolley’s 41 not out.