Hoylandswaine’s much-vaunted batting lineup was left abashed as they slumped to an early season defeat at Kirkburton. Moorlands set their standards high by delivering a crushing blow on title-rivals Honley. Meanwhile Barkisland and Skelmanthorpe maintained the early pace by adding to their opening day triumphs and thus lead the early table.
Having once again assembled a lineup punctuated with prolific batsmen, Hoylandswaine’s season has yet to ignite after being overwhelmed by a defiant Kirkburton performance at Riley Lane. Opener Asif Iqbal’s 25 was as good as it got with the remainder of his team meekly surrendering in single figures as they were ruthlessly dismissed for just 79 in reply to Kirkburton’s 194ao. Experienced bowler Tom Burkinshaw (above) did most of the damage by taking 4-17 with Andrew Smith (above) also chipping in with 3-20. Kirkburton were indebted to keeper Jonny Smith (60) and John Keeling (32) putting together a crucial 85 run partnership earlier in the day.
James Rawlinson (above) loves playing at Honley! Returning to the scene of an sublime man-of-the-match performance to win the Sykes Cup for Moorlands in 2021, the former Walsden skipper scored 77 runs out of Moorlands’ 194 total. Jon Rudge - a new signing from Carlton - made a splash with his new team by taking an impressive 6-18 to reduce Honley to 100-8 which was some way short of their Duckworth-Lewis target of 170.
Cameron Van Rensburg (above) helped Barkisland claim their second win from the first two matches as they saw off Thongsbridge in a clinical away performance. The spinner took 4-40 as the hosts were dismissed for 139 with Numan Akbar, Max Didgiunaitis and Jake Finch all claiming two wickets each. Barkisland assumed control and knocked off the total for the loss of five with Matty Weston (46no) top scoring.
Broad Oak ground out a win away at Shepley by three runs to open their account for the season. Cameron Todd laid anchor with 43 from 89 balls as Oak made 129-6. Two overs were sheared from Oak’s innings leaving Shepley a target of 137 from fifty overs but they pulled up just three runs shy on 134-9. Opening bowlers Fletcher Coutts (above) and Adam France picked up three wickets each in Oak’s narrow win.
Mirfield Parish received a rude awakening away at Skelmanthorpe. Last season’s leading run scorer Jack Newby (above, right) wasted no time picking up where he left off by scoring 77 in an opening 133-run partnership with Paul Cummins (52). Kian Schwartz (53) then made a brisk half-century and another new signing, Harlan Greig, hammered an aggressive 46 from 29 balls as the hosts set 265-7. Parish had a half-centurian of their own in Naz Khan (57) but they were bowled out for 132. Tawkal Zadran (3-17) and Prayesh Kumar Singh (3-22) did the damage with the ball.
Almondbury Wesleyans returned from Scholes empty handed after being dealt a harsh lesson with the ball by Wasim Javed (above). The opening bowler took 6-55 as Wes were bowled out for 135 before Scholes captain Benji Birkhead scored 70 in Scholes’ breezy 137-2 reply.
