Mirfield Parish Cavaliers ran holders Delph very close in this 2nd Round Sykes Cup match, but Delph just scraped through by a 2 wicket margin.
After choosing to bat first, Mirfield Parish made a horrific start when century maker in the previous round, Tim Orrell was clean bowled first ball by Umer Yaqoob. Further wickets then began to tumble, including 2 terrific catches by Rehan Afridi at mid on and a one handed one by Luke Hargreaves in the gully, to leave Parish struggling on 25 for 4. Nazar Hussain was then joined by wicket keeper Muhammad Ali and the pair looked to repair the damage. A rain delay the meant an early tea being taken after wichh Ali was caught behind for 11. Skipper Dan Broadbent and Hussain then looked to impose themselves, with Broadbent punishing anything short. The pair took the total to 136 when Hussain nicked one to keeper Louis Aspeling just one short of his half century. Broadbent fell for 62 off 63 balls (5 4’s and 4 6's) and Delph soon wrapped up the innings up for 150 in 44.3 overs. Alex Peters, with a rare outing with the ball, was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 23.
Delph soon lost opener Xander Selby and then fellow opener Rehan Afridi lofted one into the covers for 17 to leave Delph on 2 for 23. However, Alex Peters and Mosun Hussain steadied the ship and took the score to 90 with Delph apparently cruising. Hussain then miscued a pull and was caught at deep mid wicket for 21. Delph soon lost 3 quick wickets for only 5 runs, but with Peters still going strong there didn’t seem any particular alarm. But when Peters went for a splendid 73 (11 4's and 3 6's) and Adam Hayes (12) soon followed, nerves began to show for the holders. Muhammad Shakir went for a 2 ball duck to leave Delph on 145 for 8. Luke Hargreaves (20 not out) then stroked a couple of boundaries to send the relieved holders through to the next round against very gritty and determined opponents in Mirfield Parish who ran them all the way.
