Kershaski John Lewis is a big hit again

Kershaski John Lewis produced a stunning innings of 133 not out as Carlton scored a thrilling three-wicket win over Townville in the Gordon Rigg T20 Group A Cup.

He took 16 runs from the final three balls of the game, following up a four with two big sixes, as the home side’s challenging score of 199-6 was overhauled in a thrilling Pool One encounter.

John Lewis, who set the league’s record score of 237not out against Jer Lane in the 50 over format in 2019, gave another powerful display of stroke play. The Dominican hit eight sixes and 15 fours during his 64-ball knock.

Townville looked like they would escape with a narrow win when the first three balls of the final over from Chris Grey only yielded four byes, but John Lewis had other ideas and provided a ruthless finish.

James Glynn’s unbeaten 77 plus good contributions from Grey (37) and Jack Hughes (32) helped Townville make 199-6 when they batted first, Farrouk Alam proving to be the most successful bowler with 3-45.

The result ends any hope Townville had of making the semi-finals on a night when holders Hanging Heaton all but made sure of reaching the last four despite being given some anxious moments by East Ardsley.

Opener Dan McTiernan’s knock of 57 helped East Ardsley to reach 144-8. Mustafa Rafique (3-39) and Callum Bethel (3-30) posed the main threat.

Hanging Heaton looked vulnerable when they slipped to 98-6, but Rafique (28no) and Jack Rich (17no) saw them home for a four-wicket win with four balls to spare.

The night’s closest game came in Pool Four where Pudsey St Lawrence defeated Farsley by one run at Red Lane.

Chris Beech (51) and Dan Revis (51) gave Farsley a great chance of chasing down St Lawrence’s score of 138-4 which owed much to an unbeaten 60 from Charlie Parker. The target was reduced to 10 from the final over which was bowled by Jordan Moore. Six were still needed from the final ball but Will Means could only manage a four.

St Lawrence, Pudsey Congs and Undercliffe all have a chance of winning the pool. The 2019 winners Undercliffe boosted their hopes with a nine-wicket win over East Bierley. Opener Danish Hussain made an unbeaten 63 from just 23 balls as East Bierley’s total of 79 was overhauled. Nasir Jamal (3-13) and Sunny Matharu (3-7) were the pick of the Undercliffe bowlers.

New Farnley and Morley are the two teams battling it out for top spot in Pool Two. Morley had a four-wicket win over Birstall while New Farnley defeated Ossett by 36 runs.

Chris Blakeney (3-31) and Michael Darby (3-34) enabled Morley to bowl out Birstall for 122. Opener Christian Silkstone (41) ensured they knocked off the runs with 13 balls to spare.

New Farnley where bowled out for 182 in 19.21 overs at Ossett where the good work of Oliver Kilburn (4-33) and Leigh Learie (3-16) pegged back New Farnley after the dismissals of Dan Hodgson (58) and Joe Pyrah (33).

Mubtada Akhtar struck some lusty blows in his 43 as Ossett made a fast start but the pressure of maintaining a high run rate led to them losing wickets against the bowling of Liam Guthrie (3-29) and Gurman Randhawa (3-20) as they were bowled out for 146.

Bradford & Bingley and Woodlands are the joint leaders of Pool Three, but Bankfoot are only four points behind them after a night where all three recorded victories.

Young bowler Reece Cockshott impressed with the night’s best figures of 5-13 as Bradford & Bingley bowled out Baildon for 100 before romping to an eight-wicket win. Australian Corey Miller (31no) and opener Jacob Slator (28no) guided them to their target.

Woodlands skipper Brad Schmulian opened the bowling and took 4-8 with his leg spin as his side dismissed Keighley for 134 to complete a 21-run win.

Ben Hemsley (50) and Simon Bailey (35) ensured that Woodlands did not have things all their own way. Hemsley’s half century capped a fine all-round performance as he also took 3-28 with the ball when last year’s beaten finalists made 155-9. Liam Collins (37) and Nicky Rushworth (31) were the main contributors.

Bankfoot notched up the night's biggest score of 206 as they defeated ambitious Jer Lane by 55 runs. Jawad Waheed (51), Hamzah Iqbal (47) and Seif Hussain (31) led the way while Cosmond Walters returned fine figures of 5-25. Jer Lane were dismissed for 151 with Hussain taking 3-33..

Next week’s fixtures
Tuesday June 21  
Pool 1: Townville v East Ardsley, Carlton v Methley.
Pool 2: Morley v Ossett, Batley v Birstall.
Pool 3: Bradford & Bingley v Jer Lane, Baildon v Keighley, Woodlands v Bankfoot.
Pool 4: Farsley v Undercliffe, Pudsey St Lawrence v Pudsey Congs.