South Yorkshire Times July 30, 1949

Skipper’s Gesture to Half-Century Maker

Cortonwood 84 for 3  Bullcroft Colliery 81

An attractive and accomplished 52 not out by Cottonwood captain Joe Wilks, enabled the Colliery to gain a seven wickets’ victory over Bullcroft Colliery at Brampton on Saturday.

The Bullcroft batting was weak, and in an unimpressive score of 81, F. Powell was top scorer with 21. T. Harrison (12) and G. Widdowson made a valiant effort to lift the score. and added 20 runs for the eighth wicket. For Cortonwood S. Norton bowled very well, and had three for 18 in his 10 overs.

J. Wilks and B. Wilks took the Cortonwood score to 41 before the first wicket fell, B. Wilks being bowled by F. Powell. P. Fisher was out with 66 on the board, and L. Smelt went at 71.

Policeman Norman Fairclough held the fort with Wilks, the winning hit coming from Wilks to complete his 50 in as many minutes. It was a grand win for Cortonwood, and L. Newton, the second teamer brought into the team, bowled well enough to -deserve another chance.

A word of praise for Bullcroft skipper, E. Middleton, who was bowling from the Wombwell end when four runs were needed for Cortonwood’s victory, and two runs needed to complete ‘Wilks’ 50. Middleton sportingly threw up a full toss on the leg side for Joe to earn his talent money. The batsman duly obliged by belting it to the pavilion rails.

There was not the same excitement in the match as when Featherstone were at Brampton a fortnight ago, but the match was always interesting.