Cawthorne Make Delph Work Hard For Win

Drakes Premiership

Joint leaders Delph & Dobcross had to withstand an persistent Liam Wiles personal assault to maintain their 100% record as they out-muscled Cawthorne. Meanwhile Hoylandswaine shrugged off their hiccup at home to Scholes by negotiating a tricky trip to Shepley without too many issues.

Cawthorne made the long trip to Delph with the difficult task of keeping the leagues most potent run-scorers in check and made a positive start where they put Delph on the back foot from the off. However a pair of centurions in Arron Lilley (130) and Shreevats Goswami (104) flipped the game in the reigning champions favour. A last 10-over run-pile pushed Delph to a season's best 375-9. Cawthorne weren't to be intimidated by such a huge total and had Delph on the rack. A half century by Iqbal Khan (59) was the anchor for Liam Wiles to take the game to Delph and his superb 181 wasn't quite enough as the visitors fell 48 runs short in their chase in what was an excellent spectacle for Premiership cricket.

Hoylandswaine made brisk work of their visit to Shepley. In asking their hosts to bat Shepley were kept under control by bowlers Jamie Harrison (3-34) and Gurman Rhawanda (3-4) and they stuttered to 84ao. Swaine made light work of the total with Chris Holliday (42no) pinning the innings down as the visitors eased home for the loss of just two wickets.

Golcar picked up a vital win at home in their local Colne Valley derby with Broad Oak; a nice dress rehearsal for the following day's Sykes Cup 2nd Round clash. Broad Oak were always up against it by a revitalised Golcar with Steve Whitwam, the Golcar capatin in supercilious form taking 7-26 as Broad Oak collapsed to 109ao. Golcar made the points safe for the loss of six wickets, Jake Lockwood (25no) making sure of the win.

Barkisland were another struggling team to collect a much-needed victory at home to Thongsbridge. Batting first they laid on 272-8 for their visitors, Jamie Summerscales (61) and Alex Scholefield (73) were at the core of the Barkisland innings. Thongsbridge could only stagger their way to 233ao despite Alex Kemp's excellent 83 as Matthew Steers made his welcome return to action as he took 3-49 in the home side's win.

Honley brushed aside Skelmanthorpe at Far End Lane with overseas import Brett Randall starring for the home team. They had Skelmanthorpe in constant trouble and restricted them to 58ao. Honley made short work of their target reaching 64-1 before tea was normally served around the grounds.

Moorlands clinically dispatched Scholes at Chapelgate. Scholes recovered from a precarious 42-3 to set 219-9 after opener Tom Chadwick (63ao) laid anchor. Moorlands overcame the hosts total powered by Cameron French's 80no as they made 222-4 and take 6 points back to Mirfield.

Armitage Bridge's visit to Kirkburton bore fruit as they ensured the Riley Lane side propped up the Premiership table following a thoroughly one-sided victory. A strong start had Bridge at 58-0 but Kirkburton fought back as they bowled our Armitage Bridge for 223ao. However Kirkburton's frail batting reared its head once again as they heaped on pressure throughout and they went though their hosts, convincingly bowling them out for 126.

Jedi Championship.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers solidified their lead at the top of the table with a terrific win away at Kirkheaton. They set 234ao with two half-centurions in the runs; Tim Orrell (57) and Yousaf (50). Kirkheaton were never in the hunt and could only muster 109ao in reply. Charlton and Swift both taking four wickets apiece for the visitors.

Shelley skidded on a banana skin at bottom of the table Lascelles Hall. The normally fluent hosts were held to 201ao batting first and Lascelles Hall displayed all the character they'll need to stave away relegation this season as they made 207-8 led by half-centuries by George Sommerville (58) and W Simpson (52no).

Elland are finding life in the Championship uncomfortable as Rastrick put them to the sword in a Calderdale derby at Round Hill. Rastrick put up 276-6 led by Jacob Waterson's 57no but Elland didn't get anywhere near close enough to put pressure on their hosts and fell well short on 116ao. Jack Pearson (5-27) helping keep Elland firmly under lock and key with the ball.

Elsewhere Meltham crashed to defeat away at Almondbury Wesleyans. Their 133ao was not likely to be enough to overthow their in-form opponents as Wes romped to victory by six wickets. Slaithwaite also got back into winning ways by putting Linthwaite to bed - bowling them out for 71 and knocking off the winning runs for 6 wickets, which allowed Linthwaite to rescue a point from the match.

Cedar Court Conference

Lepton Highlanders continued their good progress by seeing off Mirfield away from home. Their 238-7 set batting first became more than a mounting to climb for the hosts who could only manage 194-8 in response. Asif Hussain, currently leading the Conference batting averages with over 500 runs already added 76 to his personal tally as Lepton cruised to victory.

Their main challengers Cumberworth United slid to a damaging defeat at home to Hall Bower. They managed to do the hard work by bowling brilliantly to dismiss the visitors for 91 but fell apart in the chase and were bowled out for 69. Ibrar Rafiq (4-31) and Faisar Siddiq (4-16) performed wonders with the ball for Hall Bower.

Elsewhere Almondbury overhauled Birkby Rose Hill's 154 to move up to 5th. Marsden leapfrogged Cumberworth United by winning at home to Denby Dale by 70 runs and Upperthong laid waste to sorry Denby at home. 237ao wasn't challenged and Denby fell to 97 in reply. Safraz Ahmed (101no) rolled back the years for Emley Clarence as they got off the foot of the table with a superb 10 wicket win at home to Thurstonland.