Hoylandswaine’s Chris Holliday roared back into blistering form by slamming his biggest score of the season to demolish Broad Oak and drop them into trouble. Delph and Armitage Bridge all had a sinking feeling in the bottom three as they both succumbed to unwanted defeats. Scholes’ Jack Shelley put in another masterclass with bat and ball to see off Kirkburton and Thongsbridge were scuppered away at Shepley.
Destructive batsman Chris Holliday was at his puissant best to maintain Hoylandswaine’s unwavering course to a fifth straight Byrom Shield as they dismantled struggling Broad Oak at Haigh Lane. Holliday cracked a superb 130 to help build Hoylandswaine’s best total of the season of 409-7. Arron Lilley (70), Furqan Shafiq (41) and Adeel Baig (55no) all made hay in the home team’s intimidating total as Oak struggled to handle the onslaught inflicted upon their bowlers. They were dismissed for just 83 in reply with Muhammad Azzharullah claiming 7-45: incredibly the eighth time he’s taken over five wickets in a match this season! Junaid Khan provided a supporting foil with 3-31, bringing his tally for the season to 66 wickets. Broad Oak consequently fell into the relegation zone after their defeat as the situation at the bottom tightens once more.
Delph & Dobcross were on the wrong end of an embarrassing Lidgett Lane liquidation after Skelmanthorpe’s Indian import Dev Pradhan (pictured above) routed the relegation-threatened visitors with a quick bowling masterclass. Delph capitulated to their lowest ever Huddersfield League score, dismissed for a paltry 42 in an humiliating one-sided match. Pradhan took 6-11 following a devastating eight over blitz to halt Delph’s recent good league form which had dragged Nathan Jones’ men off the bottom of the league. However this loss leaves them firmly in trouble with Paul Cummins taking care of the rest with 3-24 before Jack Newby (23no) converted the easy win with a 47-1 reply. The win propels Skelmanthorpe into calmer waters, eight points from the drop zone.
A placid Far End Lane pitch saw plenty of runs scored for both teams as Honley cruelly denied Armitage Bridge a victory that would have lifted them off the foot of the table. Chris Dennison (106) earned an excellent first hundred of the season for visitors Bridge, who set Honley a 231-8 first innings total. Saqib Matlub (58) joined in for a 124 run partnership for the second wicket Not for the first time this season have Honley chased down an imposing total and talisman Simon Kelly (102, pictured above) was in splendid form for his second century of 2022, teaming up with Timmy Taylor (71) as they hunted their 13th win of the campaign. Sohail Butt (3-66) removed both batsmen but couldn’t prevent Honley marching to 234-4 in reply.
New arrival Matthew West (pictured above) scored a magnificent ton on debut for Almondbury Wesleyan who vaulted over Golcar to leave them precariously balanced above the relegation trap door. In a match either side could ill afford to lose. Golcar, missing several first team players, were kept on a tight leash by the home side who bounced back impressively from their defeat at Delph the previous week. Skipper Jack McNamara (32) managed Golcar’s top score but his team were constantly menaced by the hosts spin duo of Danny Moorhouse (4-45) and Jed Wiggins (2-27). Golcar’s 179ao was always going to be in range for Wesleyans’ now-enhanced batting power and former Armitage Bridge player West didn’t disappoint as he scored 113no from 97 balls. Opener Will Binns (39) combined well with West to help Wes reach a 116-run first wicket partnership and they duly completed victory on 180-4 after 30 overs.
Thongsbridge were scuttled at Shepley as they fell to defeat again on the road. Shepley recorded their third consecutive victory to leapfrog Thongsbridge and move into fourth place after comprehensively sweeping the visitors aside by bowling them out for 99. Pragam Sharma (18) top scored in a disappointing outing at Marsh Lane with Danny Glover (3-17, pictured above) leading a hungry pack of Shepley bowlers. The home side knocked off the total for the loss of five wickets as Pranath Sursala (28no) led them to victory.
Jack Shelley (pictured above) was Scholes’ go-to man once again as Chapelgate’s new hero recorded his fourth century of a remarkable debut season in which he has broken the 1,000 run mark. Kirkburton frittered away a positive start batting first but they lost focus by falling from 114-3 to 210ao. Young Australian opening batsman Aaron Joby (84no) batted through for his highest score in his debut season but he lost a procession of partners as Scholes fought their way back into the contest, spearheaded by all-rounder Shelley (4-61). The Australian then scored 103 to help Scholes bounce back from their defeat at Thongsbridge the previous week and victory was finished off by inputs from Yaasir Imtiaz (35) and Bradley Birkhead (28no).
Barkisland emerged successfully from an entertaining match away at Moorlands by holding their nerve in the final over. Luke Bridges (60) and Harry Finch (48) were central to Barkisland’s 207ao and Nadim Hussain (3-55) will feel unlucky to finish on the losing side as Moorlands were denied victory in a pulsating finish. Hussain (84, pictured above) went into the final over with his side needing six to win with one wicket remaining, but paceman Numan Akbar (3-43) showed fine composure to castle the former Shepley all-rounder with three balls left.
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