10/09/2026
Week 21
The penultimate week of the season and the week which confirmed our Morley Glass 1st XI as Third Division Champions 2026. Though the day did not go fully to plan.
The final away game of the season saw Matty Waller and his team visit the corridor that is Wakefield St Micheals for the 11.30am start.
After loosing the toss, and being asked to bat first, the innings started poorly with Mitch Thomas out first ball caught by the Chirpy Skipper Hale.
The second wicket fell with the score on 27, Will Cutt LBW with Atta Ul Mustapha claiming his second wicket. The third came in the next over as a Wicket Maiden for Connolly saw Lewis Lockwood out for a brisk 24 runs.
Tyler Woodhouse and Matt Donohoe then pushed through to the 15th Over, taking the total to 67 before Hale had his second catch of the game, Tyler out on 13.
Jake Rogers in at 6 couldn’t add anything before he was C&B by Hussain. Donohoe’s anchorage of the innings ended at the start of the 21st over as Hussain picked up his second wicket, 32 vital runs scored as the scoreline crept to 80-6.
Eight more runs were added before Dilip was walking back up the hill, bowled for just 1 run, which saw Elliott Carter promoted up the order to join his skipper, with the pair adding 34 runs for the 8th wicket before Carter was bowled on 19.
Hamza Khan added 1 run before he became the ninth victim as wickets bookended the 32nd over, with Nathan Cant the final man out, a run out with the score on 116 to end the innings. The lowest total of the season.
Buoyant and chipper following their bowling performance, the homeside run chase looked to be a canter with 10 runs coming from the opening two overs, however Elliot Carter opened his account with his eighth delivery of the day, the ever safe hands of Dilip confirming the first wicket.
The batting power of Ubaid Zia was on show as he dispatched the seventh over for 20 runs, the total then was 44-1. A bowling change saw Micthell introduced into the attack following his career High figures the previous week and the Aussie Magician worked his magic to trap Zia in front on 41.
A double change of bowlers saw antipodeans at both ends as Nathan Cant chewed up the field from the bottom end with his run up, a wicket maiden first up to send the home skipper walking back to the pavilion put a wry smile on his face, 55-3 and the game was certainly back on.
Khan and Barone worked the ball around to get the total to 67 before Mitchell had his second wicket of Khan(3). Bashir then joined Barone, putting on a 17 run partnership before Nathan drilled a delivery straight through his defence, 84-5, 33 runs required, 5 wickets in hand.
5 became 6 four balls later as Barone edged one through to Rogers with the gloves and the nerves in the Home dressing room were certainly raised as Hussain strolled to the crease.
Rogers was again amongst the action, whipping the bails off to end the innings of Atta Ul Mustafa for 5, Nathan with the W. 93-7.
With 26 overs to bowl and 34 runs to win, the homeside seemed set for victory, however the accurate bowling of Mitchell came through with another LBW, Hussain (2) the next to fall. Connolly in at 10 nervously batted away the rest of the over for another Maiden, but the nerves got the better of him as Nathan collect his fifth wicket, (5-22), Connolly LBW without scoring, 94-9 with 23 runs to win.
Ellison was the last man in to join Ahmed and the gift of 5 wides saw the total reach 99, just 3 hits away form victory and nearly half the innings still to bowl.
Mitchell once again stepped up to claim his 29th Wicket of the season with an edge through to Rogers and the cue for wild celebrations as the Championship was confirmed in such dramatic circumstances.
This team has has had some remarkable results this season, beating teams from the league above in the cup and chasing down large totals at a canter, but defending 116 runs away from home to win the Title showed how far this team has come over the past 21 weeks and meant they were truly justified to be called Champions.
The trophy Presentation is to be held before the start of the next home fixture against Liversedge on the 12th September.
Our 2ndXI had their final home game of the season against WSM, with Skipper Chris Priestley away with his MCC Foundation team at Lords, Joe Hampshaw was at the Helm to win the toss and bat first, with Josh Cutt and Connor Patrick back together to take the opening deliveries.
The pairing enjoyed another impressive opening partnership of 78 before Cutt was bowled on 42. Gary Sagar returned to the starting XI and blasted a quickfire 30 before he was caughtn126-2.
Connor was the third wicket in the next over, falling 2 short of his half century as Bish Joined Hampy at the crease, however a second LBW of the day cut short his innings with just 9 against his name, 158-4.
Danny Lloyd made his first 2ndXi appearance of the season though wasn’t able to trouble the scorers as the visiting bowling attack found their rhythm, Hussain with the catch.
Boom Boom Blackburn then joined Hampy and the pair added 48 runs before Blackers was out on 20, Hampy following 2 balls later, but not before another bat raise as he reached his fifty. 215-7.
The eighth wicket fell as Suby looked to push the score along in the penultimate over, but it was left to Harrison Gibbon to swell the total to 235, with 18 runs coming off the final over.
A more than competitive total to defend, the WSM opening pair looked on a mission as they breezed to an opening stand of 98 before Gibbo finally got the break though, Bish with the stumping of Azam on 43. Gibbo then claimed the other openers wicket, LBW for 52 and the score 101-2, as belief starting to return to the homeside.
Suby then opened his account as Lloydy took the catch to dismiss Shaw, 111-3, bringing together Khan and Ali for the visitors. The pairing took a liking to the Adwalton spinners as they blasted a quickfire 33 runs before Gibbo bowled Khan on 23.
14 overs to go and 78 required. Hampshaw brought himself into the attack and was immediately rewarded with the wicket of Ali on 33, as Otley and Ahmed started the sixth wicket partnership, which was to last 36 balls as the pair swung wildly at every delivery, sending the ball to all corners of the ACG, to exceed the home total with 7 overs to spare as the home bowlers has no answer.
A vital 6 points secured however means the promotion is still possible following Spen Victoria’s win against Keighley, The 2ndXI travel to Liversedge for the final game chasing victory and a historic double promotion.
