Roscoe Tahttil’s calm half-century heaped further anxiety on Golcar as Kirkburton (pictured above) rose to fifth following a battling victory at Swallow Lane. Armitage Bridge moved out of the bottom three for the first time for the season at the expense of rock-bottom Delph whose fate now looks ominous. Premiership leaders Hoylandswaine roared back following recent disappointments by crushing Scholes and Honley maintained their good form by defeating relegation-threatened Moorlands.
Sri-Lankan all-rounder Roscoe Tahttil, who won 2021’s batting award, rediscovered his mojo to consign Golcar to defeat, seriously putting their long stay in the Premiership in jeopardy. Tahttil took two wickets and a half-century to snub Jack McNamara’s battling side as Golcar failed to defend their 183ao first innings total. Muhammad Ali scored 57 and Steve Whitwam 31 in an innings that was kept in check by spinner John Keeling (4-54), with spritely opening bowlers Aaron Moore and Jack Byrne nabbing a pair of wickets each. Kirkburton began their reply steadily with Andrew Smith (46) and Aaron Joby (27) before Tahttil (53no) and captain Jonny Butterfield (27) took the game away from the hosts with a 68-run partnership, sweeping ‘Burton towards their winning total of 184-5.
Maahir Eksteen (pictured above) was the difference between strugglers Armitage Bridge and Delph during their crunch game at Huddersfield Road. Delph missed a vital opportunity to avoid getting cut adrift at the bottom as their batting subsided once again. The home side were on top, despite Bridge skipper Curtling’s battling 75, until South African import Eksteen blasted a quick 36 with three sixes in their final over to take them to 204ao. Nayyar Abbas hit 43 as Delph eyed a victory in the chase, but once he departed, Delph’s hosts faded fast; mainly at the hands of Eksteen (5-30). Delph Number 10, Isaac Jones scored a spirited 30no late on but was unable to prevent visitors Bridge securing their fourth straight success - lifting them out of the relegation zone - as the hosts ground to a halt on 168ao.
A terrible start for Sykes Cup stars Moorlands away at Honley proved decisive as they slumped to another league defeat and into the bottom three. Lewis Kenworthy (3-47) and Jeremy Hackett (2-38) had the away side at 20-5 until skipper Eddie Walmsley (50) and James Stansfield (43) painstakingly rebuilt. Nadim Hussain also scored 43 as Moorlands set 171-9 but Honley’s reply was anchored by Timmy Taylor’s excellent 82no (pictured above). Hackett (34no) partnered well with Taylor to forge an unbeaten 80 run partnership that took them over the line on 174-4.
Reigning champions Hoylandswaine have one hand on the Byrom Shield following a crushing win away at Scholes; a team that had held a hex over them this season. Opening bowlers Muhammad Azharullah (7-31, pictured above) and Junaid Khan (3-19) inflicted all the damage in 14 overs as Scholes were blasted away for 50. Azzharullah’s league tally stands at a phenomenal 74 wickets with Junaid Khan taking his count to 57 following this one-sided performance. Visitors Swaine slipped to 17-3 in reply to their lowly target but Chris Holliday’s speedy 29 from 17 balls before being stumped made a difference as Hoylandswaine cruised home on 52-5 inside just 8 overs.
Broad Oak breathed easier by following up last week's win at Honley with another rewarding victory on the road at mid-table Shepley. Ben Lowden (61) put on 58 runs for the first wicket with a recalled Charlie Roebuck (31), and from there Oak didn’t look back despite being bowled out for 165 batting first. Danny Glover (3-22) and Oliver Davidson (3-39) claimed the bulk of Shepley’s wickets. Spinner Lowden (pictured above) took 2-38 in the reply, dominated by spin partner Dan Taylor (4-22), who took his own league tally over the 50 wicket mark - his best ever return in senior cricket. Shepley were distinctly second best, bowled out for 109, with youngster George Booth (36) top scoring for the hosts.
In-form Almondbury Wesleyan batsman Ben Shufflebotham hammered 86no to chase down Barkisland’s lofty 243-7 first innings total at Kaye Lane. Shufflebotham seems to enjoy playing against the Calderdale side having registered an unbeaten century for Wes’s 2XI match on the opening day of the season and rifled 69no in their T20 Quarter Final there in June. Barkisland’s Luke Bridges and Numarn Akbar both enjoyed scores in the seventies as the visitors threatened to put the game beyond reach. Wesleyans showed fight and determination, recovering from 114-6 with skipper Bryn Jenkins (52no, pictured above) supporting Shufflebotham and this crucial win moves them above their opponents and nine points clear from the drop zone.
A runfest at Lidgett Lane saw Thongsbridge come out on top of a match where three centuries were scored. Skelmanthorpe’s Jack Newby, who’s a clear favourite for this season’s Premiership batting award, plundered his sixth ton and a season’s best score of 144 from 153 balls. The first wicket stand of 176 with Allan Greenwood (72) was the third largest opening partnership of the season and Skelmanthorpe went on to amass 270-5. However Thongsbridge’s remarkable run-chase centred around two centuries by Kai Greig (pictured above) and Pragam Sharma as they successfully pursued. South African, Greig hit 104 from 121 balls and Sharma’s unbeaten 124no from 91 gave the innings unstoppable momentum. The pair put on 220 runs for the fourth wicket; which was the highest of the season as Thongsbridge emerged victorious on 276-4 with three overs remaining.
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