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Huddersfield's winning run continue's with resounding win - Huddersfield
Joe Lumb team continued their group fixtures with a another emphatic victory over
Pontefract at Featherstone on Sunday. Ben Raven Hill, who has won the toss
every game this season, won it again and on a scorching day decided to bat. Buckley
was unable to continue where he left of last week, and departed with 35 on the
board. Tom Denton (112) and Chris Matthewman (89) then put on a stand of 158
for the second wicket in 26 overs. Tom Denton who opens the innings for Shepley
in the Premiership has matured into a quality batsman, timing the ball so well
and destroying the bowlers with an elegant, yet destructive, technique, with his
chanceless century coming off only 90 balls, and in the end it was fatigue that
was his downfall. Green Moor's Chris Matthewman, who looks as though he can
bat all day regardless of the conditions, is an outstanding all round cricketer,
taking every ball on its own merit, not giving his wicket away cheaply and simply
gets on with the job of scoring runs, having a full repertoire of shots and a
positive mental presence both on and off the field, making him a plus for any
team. He always appears to be in control and although it was disappointing
he did not move onto his century, his innings of 89 in 109 balls was excellent.
With further contributions from Ben Raven Hill and Sam Scott, Huddersfield
posted an impressive total of 283 in the 50 overs. When
Pontefract replied, Huddersfield again put down a simple catch in the first over,
with the ball popping up to gully off the glove, and what looked like a dolly
for Tom Kemp ended as a pantomime, as Greg Buckley at second slip and Tom Kemp
both shouted for the ball, Tom did not have to move, but Greg continued and in
the end, with an eye on each other, neither caught the ball. Huddersfield
can look back and laugh at the incident, but also learn from the basic error.
Despite 90 from opener Hussain, the result was never in doubt. The Huddersfield
score of 283 always looked beyond Pontefract, and the Huddersfield bowlers looked
too good for the opposition. Sam Scott bowled well in both spells and was
again the pick of the bowlers but it was very much a team performance with Greg
Wadsworth bowling a 10 over spell and taking 5 for 39, and Jonny Butterfield chipping
in with 2 for 14. Pontefract were all out for 191 and Huddersfield won by
93 runs. This
was a straight forward victory for a strong Huddersfield team, but they will be
tested when they take on the Bradford League in their next match on 16 July at
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