Bottomley rewrites history books .

Keighley 1st X1 v Idle 1st X1 Saturday 15th May 2010

Matthew Bottomley`s majestic 166 was the outstanding performance of Keighley’s 303 for 2 against Idle at Lawkholme Lane.

Surprisingly put into bat after losing the toss Keighley openers Bottomley and Andrew Waggett put on 211 for the first wicket. According to the old timers around the boundary the highest post war opening 1st X1 stand at Lawkholme Lane.

Waggett after punishing the Idle attack himself was out first in the 38th over, 11 agonising runs short of his maiden century for Keighley. Bottomley continued to build his record breaking innings reaching his chanceless century off 122 balls playing text book cricket shots all around the ground.

Imran Patel coming in at 3 continued to push the score along his innings of controlled aggression allowing Bott a chance to get some oxygen in his lungs.

Bottomley’s historic innings finally came to an end with 3 balls of the 50 overs left. His 166 the highest individual score** by a Keighley batsman in living memory included 24 fours and not a single six, a testament to his flawless shot selection throughout.

Simon (Pad Rash) Bailey joined Patel in the middle to see the innings past 300, pushing his first delivery through extra cover for four.

Keighley’s Innings closed on 303-2 the highest first team score on record, Bottomleys innings will go down in Keighley Cricket Club history and Bottomley himself as one of the finest stroke playing batsman to grace Lawkholme Lane.

2nd Innings report to follow

**Information supplied by Paddy Anderton.

Scorecard