Justin Sproul and Sam Baxter made Kirkheaton toil as Hall Bower opened their account for the season in emphatic fashion. They were made to work hard for victory though as Kirkheaton made a good fist of chasing the hosts 274ao for whom Sproul (80) and number 9 batsman, Baxter (95) earned the lion’s share of the runs on offer. Kirkheaton’s Prinyank Koli (74) and Asaf Mahmood (105) almost nicked it for the visitors but they ran out of steam on 257ao.
In the other matches, Linthwaite’s Abdullah Manzoor, who claimed the bowling record in his first match had to settle for three wickets at home to Cumberworth, although he did demonstrate his prowess with the bat by scoring 69 in Linthwaite’s 249-9. Sajad Bashir’s five wickets wrapped up the win as Cumberworth were sent home on 130ao. Marsden go back to the drawing board after a thrashing at Birkby Rose Hill who hit 262-5, based around Birkby’s new man Ali Rafiq’s 120 from 113 balls. Marsden managed a lowly 108ao in reply.
Champions Hoylandswaine didn’t get out of second gear in a comprehensive win away at Mirfield where elder statesman Ranjith Bandula-Don took 3-20 to tot off Mirfield’s 113ao. Thurstonland enjoyed the winning feeling after Tom Broom complemented his 45 runs in the home side’s 213ao with 5-11 in Upperthong’s 125ao. Almondbury suffered their second straight defeat as they were bowled out for 92 at home to Denby Dale with Mirza Tehseen (4-13) and Fred Stower (3-25) inflicting the damage.
