Golcar’s start to life in the Championship was uncomfortable as they were held to a tie by spirited visitors Holmfirth. Two teams relegated from the Premiership locked horns as Delph with the home side overcoming Armitage Bridge and Lascelles Hall chalked up an important first win at home to Slaithwaite.
Jack McNamara’s Golcar side may need to find a higher gear as visiting Holmfirth made life difficult for them in a thrilling tie at Swallow Lane. They needed to dig deep as Holmfirth’s Max Gummerson and Sam Roberts both claimed four wickets to bowl out the hosts for 104 just as they’d been done by Golcar in the first innings. Aussie duo Ryan Adams (4-23) and McNamara (4-24) both did the damage for Golcar in the first innings.
Adnan Ghani’s 4-16 demolished Armitage Bridge as Delph & Dobcross came out on top between two sides relegated from last season’s Premiership. Had it not been for Jaycub Curtling’s gritty 40, Armitage Bridge’s 79ao would’ve been much lower but Delph snuck home on 80-5 thanks to overseas man Nayyar Abbas (20no) following up his 2-wicket contribution in the first innings.
Lascelles Hall’s Tom Addy took 5-36 as Slaithwaite were left short chasing 207ao. Several contributed for Hall first up with Joel Barnett (37) top scoring. Sohail Butt (above), returning to Slaithwaite after a season at Armitage Bridge, matched that total with the bat, along with taking 2-41, but Slaithwaite were snagged well short on 164ao.
Denby swept aside Meltham by bowling out the visitors for a modest 119. Tom Sanders took 3-29 and then saw his side home by finishing not out. New signing Saqib Matlub’s 37 and Faisal Javed (38) made sure of an opening day victory in their 120-5 reply.
No play was possible at Rastrick v Clayton West or Shelley vs newly promoted Birkby Rose Hill.
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