Cricket: Battle to be the Wizard from Oz

He fell just short of his century when Goodlad snapped up a slick caught and bowled chance.

But Ferguson's batting display lifted Keighley hopes of sneaking into the third promotion spot and a place back in the Bradford League's top flight.

The young Aussie was backed up by Ahmed Gulsheraz who scored 41 as they built a third wicket partnership of 91.

The rest of the team backed up their hard work with a superb display int he field against bottom club Morley.

Ross Towler captured six wickets for 49 runs and Gulsheraz completed a superb afternoon with four wickets for just seven runs.

The win lifted Keighley to fifth spot and they face a classic battle tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on secondplaced Spen Victoria at Lawkwholme Lane.

The game could turn into an Ausie showdown with Ferguson up against Grant Lambert from Sydney, who is rated one of the hottest young prospects in Australian batting.

He has already scored over 2,000 runs in all competitions for Spen and in the league is just 47 runs behind the record of 1,428 which was set by Iqbal Khan at Drighlington in 1998.

Keighley 2nds continued their remarkable run with their best all round display of the season winning by 172 runs against bottom side Morley.

Keighley batted first and found few problems dealing with the bowlers as Gordon and Birkett put on 106 for the second wicket. Gordon was dismissed for 74 when a century was beckoning but Birkett continued to accumulate his runs and finished the innings on an unbeaten 109. This was the first century of the season for the any of the second team. Kamal raced to 36 and Keighley finished on their best total for along time on 249 for 4.

In the field Keighley could afford to attack the batsmen which allowed Waj Ali to take 6 for 33 and 5five of these were bowled. Ratcliffe and Smith shared the other wickets taking two each as Morley crumbled to 77 all out.

Next week the seconds travel to Spen Victoria which should be a tricky game.