A seminal innings by Delph skipper Nathan Jones hauled Delph to a victory which maintained their six point lead at the top. Armitage Bridge piled up runs and misery in equal measure onto Meltham and elsewhere, Golcar and Denby secured victories which kept them in the hunt for promotion. Luckless Shelley slumped into the drop zone as Holmfirth rendered back-to-back victories which shot them up the Championship table.
Delph & Dobcross skipper Nathan Jones (above) chose a perfect moment to claim his first ever century as he kept his side firmly on track for an instant return to the Premiership. Rastrick put them through a serious inquisition by racking up 243-5 with Matt Olsen hitting 53 and Chris Laas eschewing (48) a half century. Jacob Waterson’s excellent 58 helped set an imposing target but Delph skilfully manoeuvred past this dovetailed superbly by a mature batting. Left-handed batsman, Jones’ run-a-ball 115no which included 15 fours and 3 sixes provided the bedrock of their run chase as he combined beautifully with serene overseas man Nayyar Abbas (81). They put together a match-winning partnership of 162 on the way to their 245-4.
Armitage Bridge piled up the afternoon’s largest Championship score away at Meltham with Chris Dennison and Bevan Coveley piling misery onto the bottom-placed side. The openers forged a 121 run opening partnership when Dennison (70) was first to be out. Coveley hammered 110 from 82 balls (14 fours, 6 sixes) before Jaycob Curtling made 46 and Jonah Thackeray added 32no. Meltham opener Mark Askham hit 84 in the reply but they were well beaten on 161ao with Musa Ahmed enjoying a spectacular day by taking 7-40.
A solid start made by Lascelles Hall went to waste as Golcar maintained second place with an eight wicket away day success. Tom Addy scored 43 and Joel Barnett hit 51 as Hall lost their way from 174-4 to 194ao. Zac Hurley (4-24) and Jack McNamara (3-39) battled their way back in it and experienced Golcar opening batsman Steve Whitwam showed his class with an unbeaten 81no. Hurley enjoyed a satisfying day all round by registering 51 in as many balls with James North completing the win with 38.
Khalil Khan (above) continues to make Birkby Rose Hill’s debut Championship season one to remember as he drove his side to a wholesome win away at Clayton West. The former Wrenthorpe man continued his searing season with his new club and claimed 4-37 as the hosts were bowled out for 162. Zain Ul Abdin took 3-28 for Birkby and Mark Atkinson made a half century for Clayton West but Khan was the star man in the reply with a brilliant unbeaten knock of 98. His 83-ball stay was well supported by Altaf Hussain (24) and Abbas Khan (29no) as Birkby chalked off their fifth victory of the season with 166-3.
Mohammed Nabeel’s strong bowling performance was enough to shoot Holmfith up the table and plunge Shelley into trouble. The former Emley man (above) took 4-49 and Max Gummerson 3-44 as Shelley were subdued on 165ao with no. 11 Faisal Usman top scoring with 44no. Chris Cowell and Kane Zinardi both scored 32 and Will Reeves added a crucial 31 as Shelley fought back. Holmfirth secured their vital win with a 166-7 reply.
Denby’s promotion push remained on track with an impressive conquest over Slaithwaite as they put up an imposing score of 222-8. Wicket keeper Poorna Prangige hit 77 to steady the ship when they slipped to 58-5. Rizwan Malik’s 42no took the game away from the home side who suffered their first home loss of the season. Opening bowler Malik claimed 3-25 and captain Tom Sanders helped himself to 4-58 as Denby trotted home easy winners by dismissing Slaithwaite for 145.
