Superb Nayyar Abbas scored a first ever century for Delph & Dobcross and then went to bag five wickets as the Championship leaders ravaged Meltham. Denby remained in promotion contention as they convincingly knocked over Lascelles Hall with Armitage Bridge and Slaithwaite both winning to keep tabs on the top two.
Delph overseas Nayyar Abbas (above) hammered a sumptuous 133 from 92 balls to cut down visiting Meltham. Both teams were handed humbling thumpings at Birkby Rose Hill last weekend but it was Delph who responded better as the heat finally produced a fast-scoring track at Delph. Abbas hit 14 fours and 8 sixes in his imposing innings with Mosun Hussain (81) helping his side to 314-8 with Meltham’s James Rawlinson taking 3-80 for his troubles. Abbas then scythed through Meltham finishing with 5-49 as Delph rounded off their fifth win in six by dismissing the visitors for 117.
Denby remained second with Lascelles Hall comprehensively dispatched. Sanoj Wijetunge grabbed 4-36 as Lascelles Hall disastrously collapsed from 67-2 to 76-8 and then to 101ao. Former Armitage Bridge opener Saqib Matlub’s (above) unbeaten 37 sealed a straightforward victory.
Homfirth’s Andy Grey hit an unbeaten 80 but was unable to prevent his team falling to another defeat at home to Slaithwaite which left them bottom. Janaid Tanwir (3-44) earned his 14th wicket of the season as the hosts were restricted to 188-7. A 148-run opening stand between Dave Berry (80) and Zane Gilder (64, above) set up the victory which kept Slaithwaite third after a 190-4 reply.
Steve Whitwam’s first fifty of the season for Golcar was the difference between them and Birkby Rose Hill who went into this on the back of two eye-opening home wins. Whitwam (above) scored 68 and took two wickets as Golcar shrugged off the previous weekend disappointment to remain in tune with the rest of the pack. Earlier, Birkby overseas Chaurdry Ul Haq hit his highest score of the season of 91 as they put up a respectable 197-8. Whitwam’s 2-38 and Jack McNamara’s 5-70 kept the visitors in range and James North teamed up with Whitwam to score 62 in the second innings.
Chris Dennison (above) scored 76 and picked up a wicket as Armitage Bridge saw off third-bottom Clayton West at home. Steve Cawood (45) helped Bridge to 227ao with tall Australian import Marcus Bean helping himself to his best return of 5-49. However home spinner Musa Ahmed responded with 4-46 to knock the visitors off their stride who were dismissed for 144.
Rastrick’s Matt Olsen (43) and Shrikant Wagh (61) were in the thick of the runs at home to Shelley. Tom Stead added 41 in Rastrick’s 243-8 total which Shelley struggled to get near, being cut short on 153. Visiting overseas man Blake MacDonald scored 82 but Wagh’s all-round efforts saw him claim 5-35 in his side’s third win of the season.
