Game 6 - Ben Rhydding (Home)

Date - 27th May 2006

Ilkley welcomed Ben Rhydding and old friend Leighton Parson's to Denton Road for a good old fashioned local deby.

Ben Rhydding Skipper Joe McTigue had already fanned the flames by boldly predicting victory on http://www.ilkley.play-cricket.com/ forum facility and even requesting the ICC Landlord order extra Red Stripe in for them to celebrate with after!

Fortunately, there was to be no upsets in this particular encounter and the class and pedigree of Ilkley shone through.

For the sixth consecutive time Captain Quaife again lost the toss, Mr McTigue choosing to put The ICC in on a damp, seaming track.

On a sad note Bails and Schwerdt were open the batting for the last time together... Simon having to return home for personal reasons - everyone at the club wishes Simon and his family all the best, he has made many friends during his time at the club and will be missed. Again, these two got Ilkley off to a flier, particular Simon who seemed to relish the opportunity to get stuck in to Ilkley's ex-overseas player. Bails was given a lifeline in the 8th over, getting dropped by silly mid-off after a Parson's delivery popped on a good length.

Unperturbed, the two continued the aggressive style's and in the 14th over Scwerdt had reached his 50. Soon after, Bails played on a McTigue delivery stretching for a wide one. Cocky joined Simon at the crease and with new bat in hand, seemed to adopt a more attacking stroke-play. He wasn't to last long however as Parsons got the reward his hard work deserved and had him caught behind. At the other end, Simon was bludgeoning the ball to all corners of the ground, including three quite monstrous sixes!
Sant and Simon were at the crease together but it wasn't long before Sant was back in the pavilion, caught after 3 overs.

Ilkley were now in a spot of bother, with 154-4 on the board and over 26 overs Dover and Schwerdt needed to dig in and run a few overs down before the middle order came in. Alas, it was not to be as immediately after drinks Schwerdt was held at mid-off, just 5 runs short of his maiden Ilkley century.

Up stepped Wheels, complete with new spikes and pads! And no sooner had he joined Dover at the crease than Russel was caught with a leading edge by mid-wicket.

So, 23 overs still to go, two new batsmen at the crease and Ben Rhydding were cockahoop!

Quaife and Wheels to their credit dug in well, and did just as they required, running the overs down and scoring well when the bad ball came - Quaife getting back to something like his old self with some nice shots straight down the ground and Wheels through the covers and even a hook shot to the short boundary. Just when it seemed Wheels had got in and was ready to take the attack to the Rhydding bowlers he was undone by some good bowling from McTigue and was bowled for 21.

With 11 overs left Rhodes and Quaife now had a platform to push the score on and that the did, Rhodes getting a quick 26 before being bowled and letting Harrison come in a smash 10 in 5 balls. Harrison out the last ball of the game but Captain Quaife carried his bat with an impressive 40 and Ilkley had set an imposing 263-8.
From the outset, the Rhydding lads seemed content to settle for a point. Good opening spells from Harrison, Rhodes and Jayes immediately set the tone and with some tremendous fielding from the Ilkley lads, most notably Dover it was unlikely BRCC were ever going to threaten the Ilkley score. Indeed the most worrying aspect concerning the Ilkley players was the threat of rain in the distance.

The first wicket came in the 6th over after a superb run-out fro the bustling Dover and it was the least Ilkley deserved. The second wicket was not far behind, Wheels holding onto a simple chance at square leg after some tight bowling from Jayes. The catch brought about the removal of Parsons and most likely any chance the Rhydding Boys had of getting anything from the game.

Number 4 came and went in the most ridiculous of dismissals, running halfway down te wicket to try and swipe Rhodes - he missed by a mile and was comprehesively bowled! Captain McTigue cannot have been impressed.

In he came however and batted tidily and set the example. He hit the bad ball but dead-batted anything else. Unfortunately with no help at the other end he was fast running out of partners as Guppy brought himself on and was picking wickets up at regular intervals. The scoring was less than pedestrian and Captain Quaife was trying everything to get a wicket, rotating Jayes, Rhodes, Cockcroft and Dover to no avail. And when the heavens opened and the umpires prematurely brought the players off it seemed Ilkley's hard work was to prove worthless. Fortuantely, it stopped as quickly as it started and despite getting a wicket with 2 overs to go Ben Rhydding hung on at 76-8 and seemed quite content.

Ilkley again experienced victory but will face much tougher opposition at New Rover next week.

Ilkley 263-8 (Schwerdt 95, Quaife 40*, Rhodes 26, Parsons 5-79))
Ben Rhydding 76-8 (Quaife 3-21)

Special thanks to Brian Bailey for allowing us the use of his photos which are an excellent addition to the Match Reports. Many thanks Brian!