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Friday, 3rd September 2010

Talented all-rounders turn in impressive displays

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Published Date: 05 June 2009
TWO talented all rounders made significant contributions to their sides' impressive victories last weekend with centuries and four wicket hauls in Bradford League and Huddersfield League cricket matches.

Lightcliffe Cricket Club's skipper Richard Nichols, 41, in his second season with the club after spells with Brighouse and Bradford and Bingley, scored his highest ever score of 157 not out against Great Horton and he took four for 29 in 14 overs.
Rastrick Cricket Club's Australian import Elliott Lawrie, 23, now in his third season with the club, also rattled up his highest score, 125, away to Emley Clarence and he took four for 65 in 15 overs.
Nichols, a former Old Brodleians full-back, had bumped into his old U-14s coach John Dickinson at Brighouse on Spring Bank Holiday Monday and had been asked why he hadn't been getting some "big scores"?
"I told John that I felt that one was coming on as I was feeling good with the bat, so that 157 was for him besides the team," he said.
"I must also point out that James Horne's 87 not out against Keighley in the first home game of the season, and they were different class opposition, was more than equal to my innings. Great Horton were not the best fielding side we have come up against.
"I must also compliment the ground staff. Under Rod Heyhoe and what he calls his two apprentices this season, Robert Brooke and Paul Hayman, they have produced a square that hasn't a bad wicket on it. We are averaging 220 a home game with the first team on it and its likewise for the Second Eleven."
Nichols, whose previous highest was 130 for Brighouse in 2001, said he came on first change bowler and wasn't going to bowl in the match but injuries affecting the squad forced his hand.
How did he feel come Sunday morning after over three hours at the crease and then bowling his fourteen overs?
"I have felt better, "he replied, but was up and off by Tuesday to play in the club's Bradford League Twenty/20 group game at Cleckheaton.
"We have to meet three out of the top six clubs in the next three weeks and I am glad we are in form and confidence is high," he added.
Lawrie, who revealed he was leaving the club at the end of July to return to Freemantle in Western Australia to take up a sports science degree course at the Notre Dame University, had previously scored 91 for Rastrick but this was his maiden century as he had only scored 48 not out before for East Freemantle.
Back home and when he came here he was regarded more of a fast bowler than a batsman but the challenge of English wickets, especially up here in the Pennines, had brought on his batting.
The assistant Willow Valley golf course greenkeeper said his skipper Matthew Lambert said in the tea break that he would bring him on first change, rather than open as normal with him, just to give him some more recovery time.
"He then bowled me out, but at my age if I can't bat for just over three hours and then bowl 15 or so overs then I shouldn't be playing on the other side of the world," he said.
"I loved it out there in the lovely weather which for me has been the best since I came here.
"It is good here at Rastrick this season. There is competition for places and when a side is winning the whole place is a much environment to play in."

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  • Last Updated: 05 June 2009 3:13 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Brighouse
 
 
 


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