Like their first team colleagues, Langley Mill’s second squad were unable to adapt to the wet conditions and had to bat out time at Shipley on Saturday. Heavy rain made conditions barely playable and play was interrupted by showers throughout the game.
Skipper Rich Davey won the toss and put Shipley in on a green, damp track. Opening with spin at both ends, the Millers restricted the hosts to 45 from the first 20 overs before Paul Aldred removed Neil Parkin, caught by Rich Krupiak for 27 and Rowan Jobling clean bowled first ball.
After 32 overs, Shipley had inched their way to 86 before Aldred struck again, bowling Andy Bowley for 34, his innings taking 83 balls to accumulate. This brought Kevin Farnsworth to the crease and he completely destroyed the Millers attack. Despite losing George Essex, caught by Nick Wright, off Andrew Ball, for 28, Farnsworth bludgeoned 9 sixes and 4 fours in a 47 ball 85.
The Shipley score raced to 198 as 113 runs came in the final 12 overs, including 31 from one Rich Davey over, Farnsworth hitting the first five balls for towering sixes.
Farnsworth finally fell in the last over, caught by keeper Craig Parker, off Steve Walker to leave Graham Farnsworth to close the innings with an unbeaten 18.
Only Aldred had figures to be proud of taking 3 for 22. Ball’s wicket cost him 37 from just five overs and Walker’s cost 29 from two overs. Not a pretty sight for the bowlers.
The Millers reply was nothing short of disastrous as Graham Farnsworth shot out the first five batsmen in just 16 overs. Neil Wing was first to go, leg before for one, followed by Wright, caught by Bowley for 11. Oliver Blake was next, caught and bowled for 9, before keeper Parkin snapped up Ball and Aldred, both for four, leaving the visitors teetering on 32 for 5.
With so many interruptions, the game became a time match with play scheduled to finish at 8:00 pm. Shipley raced through their overs in an attempt to make further inroads, but Parker (16 from 67 balls) and Krupiak (3 from 54 balls) stood firm as the Millers moved to 53 for 5 from 35 overs when time ran out.
Graham Farnsworth bowled superbly netting 5 for 20 from his 14 overs, helping Shipley to 13 points when all their rivals picked up six for cancelled matches. The Millers eight points were two more than leaders Sandiacre Town and the gap between the two is now down to just four points, with the Millers having a game in hand.
Scores: Shipley Hall (13pts) 204-5 [46 overs] (K Farnsworth 85, A Bowley 34, P Aldred 3-22) match abandoned v Langley Mill Utd (8pts) 53-5 [35 overs] (G Farnsworth 5-20)
