First versus third lived up to its spectacular billing as Barkisland inflicted a first league defeat on Moorlands whose lead at the top was sheared to three points. Skelmanthorpe found themselves in close pursuit despite surviving a wobble at Kirkburton and Hoylandswaine’s wretched defence of the Byrom Shield suffered yet another setback at Broad Oak. Thongsbridge and Almondbury Wesleyans feasted on successes which was bad news for Mirfield Parish Cavaliers and Scholes leapfrogged Honley who plummeted to eighth.
Middle order Barkisland batsmen Jake Finch (above, right) and Cameron Van Rensburg rose to the occasion to plot the downfall of Premiership table-toppers Moorlands in a riveting contest, won on the final ball. The lofty leaders proudly arrived in Calderdale with an unblemished unbeaten record and for the most part it looked to continue as they belligerently scythed their way to 206-6 in a reduced 33 overs match. This was on the back of two superb performances by Amogh Bhatkal (67no) and Siraj Sajid (68) who flogged Barkisland’s bowlers to put on 132 runs for the fourth wicket. Max Didgiunaitis (4-42) avoided the most brutal treatment and it seemed business as usual when they were reduced to 57-4 thanks to Jon Rudge who claimed 3-52 having returned from injury. Skipper Jake Finch found a willing partner in Van Rensburg to turn the tables on the visitors. Finch made 53 by providing a stoic foil to Van Rensburg’s more cavalier approach and he smashed 59 from 49 balls. With both batsmen out on the cusp of victory, Numan Akbar clipped home the winning four on the very last ball of the match to inflict a first defeat on Moorlands and move within five points of them in third.
At the bottom of the table it was all change as both Almondbury Wesleyans and Thongsbridge grabbed thirsty wins to boost their fight against relegation. Mirfield Parish Cavaliers replaced Thongsbridge at the foot of the table by slumping to defeat at Miry Lane after being undone by Jack Lees’ second century of the campaign. Lees tucked into some generous Parish bowling with a 79-ball 101, garnished with 11 fours and 4 sixes. Australian Keiran Abrams (above) added 47 and Ben Raven-Hill had earlier set the tone with 36 as Thongsbridge racked up 269 from 40 overs. Lees was removed by Parish’s best bowler Brendon Brehaut who took 4-57 during the carnage. The visitors earned a consolation point in the reply but are beginning to get detached from safety, as the gap grew to ten points. Tom Olsen’s battling 85no restored some pride as Thonsgbridge trio Tom Raven-Hill, Ben Balmforth and Lees all picked up three wickets.
Spinner Daniel Moorhouse starred for Almondbury Wesleyans’ who made back-to-back wins with a mature victory away at Shepley. Moorhouse claimed 4-31 and Matt Henshaw nabbed 3-38 as the visitors asserted control at Marsh Lane with Shepley captain Danny Glover (44no) ensuring his side had something to bowl at. Wesleyans negotiated a potentially tricky 164ao chase via a brilliant 107 run second wicket stand by Will Binns (69, above) and Chris Abbey (44). Young Shepley spin bowler Josh Hoyle fared the best but they were unable to shackle the visitors who won on 165-5 with four overs remaining.
Prayesh Kumar Singh’s 4-29 inflicted mortal damage upon Kirkburton who slumped to their second straight defeat at Riley Lane as second-placed Skelmanthorpe moved to within three points of leaders Moorlands. Jonny Butterfield’s 39 was the highest score in their 135ao with Singh’s opening partner Tawkal Zadran (3-43) contributing towards ‘Burton’s downfall. After a sluggish start to the season, former Thongsbridge batsman Kai Greig (above) is now hitting his straps and he anchored the visitors’ reply with 49no. Kirkburton men John Keeling (3-31) and Andrtew Smith (4-43) made Skelmanthorpe work hard for their victory after they lost four wickets for 17 runs, however they had enough to close off their win on 138-7.
Broad Oak’s Fletcher Coutts (above) peppered Hoylandswaine who slumped to their latest defeat following another anaemic batting display. The Byrom Shield holders were felled by Coutts who collected 5-48 with Duncan Brown making 42 for Swaine who were restricted to 140-9 in 35 overs. In-form Cameron Todd’s 41 defied a blunt Hoylandswaine bowling attack as Oak rallied, helped by a 52-run opening partnership between Dom Finn (35) and Connor Dimech (21). Oak completed their success with a 141-5 reply with 15 balls to play.
Scholes’ season moved up a gear with their fourth victory in contrast to visiting Honley who slipped to their fifth defeat of the season. The hosts moved above them in the table as they hunted down Honley’s 205-8 with a faultless reply. Lewis Evans made 74 for Honley and Scholes bowlers Louis Brook, Yaasar Imtiaz and Jake Lockwood all claimed two wickets apiece. Mitchell Slattery’s 87no (above) reinforced the second innings as Imtiaz scored 40 leaving captain Benji Birkhead to apply the gloss with 56no.
