Yorkshire League South: United feel Rafiq blow as Treeton denied easy win

Mark Stoneman caught for 25 bowled by Azeem Rafiq.
Durham Jets v Yorkshire Vikings. Emirates Riverside. 24 June 2016. Picture Bruce Rollinson — Mark Stoneman caught for 25 bowled by Azeem Rafiq. Durham Jets v Yorkshire Vikings. Emirates Riverside. 24 June 2016. Picture Bruce Rollinson

As has become the norm this season, your correspondent spends more time talking about weather affected games than completed games.

Collegiate were due to face struggling Doncaster Town at Abbeydale, looking to continue their top half position in the new league setup.

But they simply never got started due to the weather and all momentum from consecutive wins at the start of the month has dissipated.

Pictured is Treeton CC 1st XI all rounder Steve Foster

They will hope for a better forecast this week when they travel to north Sheffield to face Whitley Hall. Let’s hope the forecast is more accurate than that used in this column last week!

City rivals Sheffield and Phoenix United travelled the short distance to Treeton who won the toss and chose to field first. The visitors were feeling the effect in their line up of the absent Azeem Rafiq.

The pressure on the bowling felt at county level - due to injuries and country call ups that resulted in Rafiq resigning for Yorkshire - saw him removed from the club scene to ensure his fitness and availability for the game against Pakistan A at Headingley.

Treeton took full advantage, with only Rafiq’s brother Danial (38) reaching double figures in the top half of the order.

Jaymish Patel (22) and Matthew Rees (17) brought a modicum of respectability to the total of 110 all out, with some late hitting.

Greg Norton (3-25), Steve Foster (3-29) and overseas Muhammad Attari (3-40) shared the bowling plaudits. Treeton’s reply didn’t last one over. Just four balls were possible, before the weather intervened and the points shared.

United host Barnsley this weekend hopeful that Rafiq can return after his exploits in the ‘A’ game and a potential appearance in the Roses T20 Blast game on Friday evening.

The top of the table clash between Appleby Frodingham and Wakefield Thornes ended in a Duckworth Lewis induced tie, as Thornes were on the par score of 82-4 after 22 overs in chasing the 171 all out set by their hosts.

STANDINGS (10 games): Appleby Frodingham 98; Wakefield Thornes 98; Cleethorpes 72; Wickersley 68; COLLEGIATE 64; UNITED 58; Whitley Hall 56; Aston Hall 52; Barnsley 46; Treeton 40; Doncaster 28; Rotherham 12.