Mirfield Parish Cavaliers gave their wavering relegation fight a massive fillip after Tim Orrell weighed in with a destructive century to stun fellow strugglers Delph & Dobcross. Broad Oak put recent anxieties behind them with a solid 6-wicket defeat over Slaithwaite. The leading pack all flashed their fierceness with the ball to hammer their opponents with Thongsbridge, Hoylandswaine and Moorlands completing comprehensive wins. Golcar continued a fine run of form to romp to victory at Kirkburton and Scholes registered their third success over Shepley of the season.
Orrell’s Onslaught Helps Parish Climb Out Of Drop Zone
Delph & Dobcross slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this season as Mirfield Parish Cavaliers, hindered by the loss of overseas Nazir Hussain and Nick Sharp completed a morale-boosting victory with two balls to spare. Veteran Tim Orrell stepped up for the umpteenth time to steer his side from a hopeless position following up Delph’s oppressive 254ao first innings total. The visitors’ opening batsman, Mosun Hussain who despite Delph’s struggles is conversely enjoying an excellent season with the bat. His 88 from 100 balls knitted the innings together with Dan Broadbent (3-56) and Tom Fretwell (4-56) chipping away with the ball. Luke Hargreaves teed off with some large blows to hammer 73 from 48 balls as Delph finished their half on a high. The hosts were in trouble early in the reply as they were caught in a mire on 65-5. Wily former Woodlands man, Orrell formulated other plans as he clinically fed off Delph’s more inexperienced bowlers to keep them in the contest. As the final ten overs came into sight he dramatically upped a gear to launch boundaries in rapid succession. The 53 year old’s unbeaten 135 came in just 68 balls with 16 fours and 10 sixes as Parish knocked off the total for 255-7 with just two balls remaining. A huge win in the fight for survival at the bottom of the table.
Zafar Torments Honley In Thongsbridge Thumping
Zafar Iqbal, Thongsbridge’s seasoned seam bowler roared back from a one-match absence with a sizzling seven wicket haul to dismantle Honley at Miry Lane. The leaders maintained their 100% home record with a one-sided 123 run victory to reach the half-way point of the season in pole position. Tall youngster Harry Franklin’s fourth half-century of the season was supported by Kai Greig (40) as they put on 72 runs for the third wicket. Charlie Taylor took 4-57 as the hosts made 177-7. Iqbal hypnotised the visitors with a stunning display, a week after team mate Tom Raven-Hill was deployed to similar effect. After over a decade with Thongsbridge Iqbal still showed he still has plenty left to offer by taking 7-29 to neutralise Honley’s reply. Honley skipper Timmy Taylor (19) and Lewis Kentworthy (12) were the only batsmen to post double figures as the visitors surrendered with 54ao.
Moorlands’ Sykes Scythes Through Barkisland
Moorlands kept tabs on the leaders as they followed up last week's thrilling win away at Hoylandswaine with a crushing defeat at home to Barkisland. Shoukat Ali’s 76 and Eddie Walmsley (60) were highlights of a dominant Moorlands first innings score of 226-4. After Andrew Walker (3-7) had carefully removed the first two Barkisland batsmen, Darrell Sykes (7-20) ran through the remaining lineup with consummate ease. Only Harry Finch (10) posted anything remotely of significance as Barkisland were swept aside for 31 in just 15 overs.
Armitage Bridge Yield To Cool Show By Swaine’s Singh
Experienced war horse Sarjinder Pal Singh’s patient half-century was the difference that saw Hoylandswaine deny Armitage Bridge. Singh’s 116-ball 61no stole the show in a hard-working display by the 2019 Champions. Asif Iqbal (28) and Shakeel Ansar (20) chipped in with patient knocks before new signing from Wakefield Thornes Faisal Irfan (37no) joined Singh to put on 64 runs and help set a 163-3 chase. Max Morley (4-25) found conditions to his liking as Swaine sufficiently tempered Bridge’s reply. Alex Blagborough (39) continued his excellent season but Swaine maintained control as the innings petered out to 117-9.
Golcar’s Star Man Whitwam Flays ‘Burton
Experienced all-rounder Steve Whitwam showed no signs of slowing down when Kirkburton were put to the sword by high-flying Golcar. Whitwam took 3-39 with the ball and scored 81 with the bat in a majestic all-round performance to claim another six points for his side who now sit in fourth. Kirkburton’s innings was peppered with double-digit scores without any really troubling the visitors. Captain Jack McNamara (34no) showed again he was the perfect foil for the long-serving Whitwam who was out shortly before Golcar overtook the hosts’ 147ao total with 148-3 in 37 overs.
Broad Oak Glide Away From Trouble To Leave Slaithwaite In Peril
Broad Oak’s recent blip was left behind as they handed a ninth defeat of the season down to Colne Valley neighbours Slaithwaite. Bowlers Alex Slack and Dan Taylor took four wickets each as the visitors were dismissed for 102; the eighth time that they’ve failed to bat their allocation this season. Jake Read’s 37no glued the 103-4 reply together for Oak’s second consecutive win which moved them six points clear of the drop zone. Slaithwiate remained rooted to bottom place, 13 points from safety.
Shepley Return Empty-Handed From Chapelgate Once Again
Dejected Shepley suffered another defeat away at Scholes, their third loss there this season as their opponents climbed into mid-table with a routine win. Once Shepley’s top three had been ruthlessly extracted by opening bowlers Wasim Javed and Louis Brook, the result started to look a formality. Josh Brook and Yaasir Imtiaz took over by taking three wickets each as the visitors struggled to 140ao. Imtiaz (84no) scored a back-to-back half century in a one-sided second innings as Scholes romped to their sixth victory of 2021 with 143-2.
