Cricket: Bradford Town v Box

Having won the toss, Bradford captain James Edwards decided to put Box into bat.

The decision initially proved to be a good one as Box got off to a shaky start, especially against Harrington (2 for 47) who started with three maidens before he trapped Bultitude (2) LBW.

Hayward (65) and Neil Pettit (20) took the score to 56 before Pettit was bowled by a ball that simply didnt bounce from Tony Laws (3-62).

Jake Pettit, son of Neil, unbelievably fell in the same fashion, this time to the hands of Bird (2-49).

Hayward's flambuoyant innings was ended two balls after the drinks break when Bird clean bowled him to leave the visitors on 103 for 4.

Marcus Bray (25) and Trotman took the score to 146 before Laws grabbed his second wicket to remove Bray.

Styles (4) threatened to accelerate but was bowled by Laws for his third wicket.

With the score on 154 for 6 and just over ten overs to go, Trotman decided to attack at will.

He romped to a score of 85 which included 12 fours and 3 sixes before being caught by Bird off the bowling of Gerrish (1-77), he was supported well by Crawford (12) who fell to Harrington and Dancey (8*) to leave Box with an impressive score of 260 for 8 from their 45 overs.

Bradford were left to rue the 7 catches they dropped during Box's innings, a score under 200 would have been on the cards had they held onto their chances.

In reply, Bradford had a terrible start. The opening attack of Crawford and Styles coupled with tight fielding restricted the home side early on.

Crawford was first to strike trapping Edwards for a duck in his first over, Rickett (9) was forced off with an injury and Crawford picked up his second wicket, also LBW accounting for Gerrish (1).

Styles (2-34) found found the outside edge of Harringtons (11) bat to Keeper Bryant and soon after, Long and Bird both departed for ducks in the same over as Crawford clean bowled them both.

Rickets return from injury with a runner was short lived as Hayward snaffled a catch at gulley for Styles' second wicket to leave the hosts on 36 for 5.

Tony Laws (28) offered some resistance before Matt Dancey (2-30) got himself in on the act by trapping him LBW, Cash fell for a duck in the same over again LBW to Dancey.

With Box sniffing maximum points, Darren Jones put paid to that with some excellent batting as he and Ross Pike (15*) built a steady fifty partnership before Jones fell for 45 to the returning Crawford, Trotman taking a one handed catch at gulley and Crawford wrapped up the win with his best ever figures of 6 for 17 by removing Powell caught and bowled. Bradford eventually all out for 124.