Kai Greig hammered a ton and Jack Newby just missed out by a run as Skelmanthorpe ruthlessly slayed third-placed Barkisland to keep tabs on runaway leaders Moorlands who eased to victory at home to Broad Oak. Hoylandswaine emphatically roared back to winning ways with a demolition of Thongsbridge whose former teammate caused maximum damage. Shepley withstood a tricky test at bottom side Mirfield Parish and Scholes made it four wins from four by inflicting defeat on Kirkburton. Honley were left scratching their heads after they failed to win once again which pulled them closer towards the bottom two.
Kai Greig and Jack Newby combined stylishly to obliterate visiting Barkisland with a victory that maintained their grasp on Moorlands’ coat tails at the top of the division. A 219 run second wicket partnership between the prolific pair included a hundred for Greig, whilst 2022 batsman of the year Newby checked out on 99. Greig’s 106 came in 98 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes which was followed up with 31 from Prayesh Kumar Singh and Kian Schwartz’s 32 as Skelmanthorpe piled up 332-9. In Numan Akbar, Barkisland possess the Premiership’s leading wicket-taker and he grabbed three more to take his tally to 32 with fellow opening bowler Max Didgiunaitis claiming 3-62. However the league’s leading run-getter, Matty Weston, was absent and the weight of the chase soon told. Harry Finch (53) made his third half-century and Isaac Pollitt added 38 but Skelmanthorpe let scoreboard pressure do the rest as Barkisland ran out of road on 204. Tawkal Zadran’s 3-49 (above) was the best of Skelmanthorpe’s bowling.
Thongsbridge were haunted by former all-rounder Pragam Sharma’s brilliance with the bat after they were hammered at Hoylandswaine. The title-holders emphatically got back to winning ways, racking up 323 with three balls left. Sharma (above) tenaciously bullied his former teammates with a beautifully struck 161 from 111 balls, sending 18 fours and 8 sixes out of the ground. Ben Raven-Hill took 4-66 and needed to pull a substantial innings out of the hat but he was dismissed for 31 during the reply. Richard Marshall top scored with 58 but Swaine bowlers Umer Yaqoob (4-54) and Max Morley (4-46) ran through the Thongsbridge ranks to leave them well short on 166ao.
A short trip to lowly Almondbury Wesleyans didn’t help Honley’s quest for a first win since mid-May after they slumped to a five wicket loss and dropped uncomfortably near to the drop zone. Simon Kelly’s 45 was the best of a stuttering innings where they set 226-9 taking first knock with Dan Moorhouse (above) and Chris Abbey both collecting three wickets apiece. Abbey then went on to reinforce Wesleyans’s dominance with a sparkling 68no. Tom Binns, Matt Schubert and Moorhouse all batted nicely around him to secure victory. Lewis Kenworthy claimed 4-82 but Honley were well beaten as Wes replied with 232-5.
James Rawlinson (above) hit 81no for leaders Moorlands as their hungry pursuit of Byrom Shield glory continued with a comfortable defeat of Broad Oak. The visitors were taken down by Nadim Hussain and Siraj Sajid who both chimed in with three scalps each. Cameron Todd’s 55 was the top score for Oak, who were restricted to 189-9. However Rawlinson led the 193-2 reply with Marcus Walmsley making 43 and overseas man Amogh Bhatkal finishing things off with 39no.
Shepley survived an uncomfortable visit to bottom side Mirfield Parish by emerging winners by six runs in a compelling contest. Danny Glover’s side had to rely on Oz Davidson’s 74 (above), lashed from 53 balls, which rescued them from 107-6 to put up 176. Brayden Brehaut and Nazakat Khan both came away with three wickets as Parish seeked their second victory. A middle order collapse ultimately cost them dearly as Craig Glover tucked into the hosts by taking 4-31 leaving spinners Josh Hoyle (2-37) and Davidson (2-31) to stifle the rest. Skipper, Danny Glover uprooted last Parish man Brad Drake (23) as they inched towards victory, bowled out for 170.
In-form Scholes saw off visiting Kirkburton to notch their fourth consecutive league success. An unconvincing batting performance left them with work to do with the ball as Kirkburton bowler John Keeling enjoyed a stunning afternoon by collecting 8-76. Mitchell Slattery hit 56 and Brad Birkhead scored 42 as they were forced to defend 192. However the match swung their way when Kirkburton crumbled from 69-3 to 70-7 after Josh Brook’s 6-62 (above) changed the balance of power. Craig Fletcher cut a frustrated figure, marooned on 59no as his side were castled for 168.
