Robinson Reapes rewards at home to Spen.

Keighley 1st X1 v Spen Victoria 1st X1 12th June 2010

Scorecard

Keighley gained a welcome 20 points at home to Spen Victoria on a day (and night) of high drama at Lawkholme Lane.

Without the services of stalwart opening bowler Ross Towler, sidelined with a shin injury, Keighley went into this game on the back of 3 heavy defeats. Needing a victory to get their season back on track they did not disappoint.

Batting first the reliable and consistent opening pair of Bottomley and Waggett set about the Spen bowlers, the tins quickly rattling to 50 in the 10th over. When the first wicket fell that of Waggett (35) with the score on 83 the platform had been laid for the top order to build a respectable score of 234 for 6.

Coming in at no 3 Imran Patel failed to trouble the scorers, nicotine deprivation and unfortunately misjudging a very straight one his undoing.

Next in Simon Bailey (10) miscued one and was caught at backward point, No 5 Paul Quinlan followed 2 over’s later - out LBW for 8.

This brought the evergreen Richard Robinson to the middle to join opener Bottomley, some excellent running between the sticks saw them put on a partnership of 43 before Bottomley was out - bowled by Abbot for a battling 59.

Under 17 Wicket keeping batsman Jonny Wilkinson and Robinson put on 40 runs in only 5 over’s , young Wilkinson contributing 31 runs ( 2 sixes, 3 fours ) in an innings that saw him dispatch the ball to all corners of the ground, one notable pull for six over square leg leaving Robinson more than happy to see his fellow batsmen on strike.

The dismissal of Wilkinson after his 21 ball fiery innings saw captain Steve Reape and Robbo continue to push the score along , some risky two`s almost seeing the run out of Reape, twice just managing to stumble into his ground. Taking the score past the magical 225 to gain maximum batting points Robinson 49 not out and Reape 15 not out saw the innings close on 234 for the loss of 6 wickets.

In the absence of talisman Towler, Paul Quinlan and Steve Reape had first dibs with the new ball, Reape taking the early wicket of opener Speck with the 4th ball of his first over.

No 3 West, along with opener Jackson put on 43 for the 2nd wicket, before Jackson was out, caught behind by Wilkinson off the bowling of Perry.

Looking set Spens next pair started to chip away at Keighley’s total, when a change of bowling saw the fall of key wicket Mathew West, a Robinson double act, caught Ash bowled Richard.

Still requiring 100+ runs Spens next wicket fell 2 over’s later, the score on 128 for the loss of 4 wickets.

The game evenly poised Spen lost their next 4 wickets adding a further 71 to the score, still needing 36 more runs to win with 6 over’s and 2 wickets remaining.

The 9th wicket saw a partnership of 22, before captain Steve Reape now in his second spell clean bowled Paul Eachus, much to the delight of the masses on the western terrace.

A brave effort from 10 and jack edged Spen to within 2 runs of the Keighley total. A clean pickup and throw from Andy Waggett straight into the hands of 6ft 10in keeper Jonny Wilkinson saw the bails whipped off for a welcome and well timed victory; England just kicking off in their quest to bring home the World Cup - but that’s another story!!