Reape Steers Keighley to Thrilling Win

Morley 1st X1 vs Keighley 1st X1 – Saturday April 25th 2010

 

Keighley continued their good early season form with a thrilling victory against a battling Morley team. The Keighley-Morley fixture is traditionally a keenly contested, hard fought affair, always played in the ‘Spirit of Cricket’. The game on Saturday was no exception. Morley had first use of an excellent batting deck and, with the sun beaming down, Keighley worked hard to restrict the scoring rate. Danny Lloyd grafted patiently for his 71 before being caught and bowled by Ash Robinson. As Morley threatened to cut loose Keighley continued to take wickets at regular intervals and the final score of 197 for 5 was around par for the conditions.

 

Keighley began with a flurry as Richard Robinson carried on from where he left off last week. His early wicked clearly boosted the Morley players and, at this stage, it was honours even. Matthew Bottomley and Imran Patel began the fight back, constructing a watchful and patient partnership. When Bottomley fell, after a solid 36 it brought the belligerent, hard hitting Simon Bailey to the crease. ‘Bails’ was in no mood to hang around and he began to attack the Morley bowling, hitting the ball particularly well straight. Once again a good partnership developed before Bailey was LBW to the hard working Russell. Paul Quinlan came in and, after a patient start, worked the ball nicely into the gaps. Patel looked in no trouble at all until, after a superb 57, he holed out to long off. ‘Quinny’ followed soon after and, when Wilkinson was run out, the nerves were beginning to show.

 

Enter the old guard; Reape and Towler. Captain Reape was coolness personified and he guided Keighley home in another memorable KCC-Morley game with a stunning straight six.