Sam Tyas (Denby Dale) delivered a powerful bowling display as he single-handedly decimated Upperthong with a fabulous eight wicket haul. His 8-17 was the deciding factor as Upperthong were bowled out for 63 in Denby Dale's convincing win.
Picture courtesy of the Huddersfield Examiner
Drakes Premiership
Kirkburton snared a morale-boosting home victory on a warm day against mid-table Cawthorne and hauled themselves off the bottom of an ever-changing Premiership table in the process. Skelmanthorpe replace them at the bottom after they were defeated by third place Moorlands with fellow strugglers Barkisland also slipping into the relegation zone after being overwhelmed by a rampant Hoylandswaine display.
Kirkburton, possibly inspired by their Heavy Woollen Cup heroics last Sunday (they have reached the semi-final after a win against Wrenthorpe) proved irresistible with the ball, in particularly Javed Ahmed (5-20), as they fired out shell-shocked Cawthorne for 81. It didn't take too long to make good a crucial six points as they battle for consistency with relegation a real concern for Craig Fletcher's Riley Lane men. They reached their target for the loss of just one wicket.
The picture at the bottom much remains the same after fifth-placed Shepley negotiated a tricky match at relegation-threatened Golcar. The home side set up a thrilling match by setting 202ao with Upal Bandara (49) just missing out on a half-century. Shepley had to pace their innings patiently and Archie Greaves (75no) took another step forward in his development since his step up from Cumberworth United. Tom Denton (79) sharing the stage with him in his time away for leading the line at Halifax Town. Shepley reached 206-4 in near enough the full 50 overs.
Delph & Dobcross after going so long without losing have now lost back to back league matches, despite Mosun Hussain (132) chalking up yet another eye-catching century at home to Broad Oak. The visitors had Delph on the rack for much of the first innings, reducing them to 80-8. Hussain did a fine job of looking after the tail and along with Luke Hargreaves (31) helped Delph set 216ao. Broad Oak needed to dig deep into their reserves especially having to withstand early Delph pressure with the ball. Shakir Muhammad (4-50) had Oak in lots of trouble, the swing bowler taking the first four wickets. However a solid partnership between skipper Jack Hargreaves (55) and Ryan Wadsworth (68) gave the visitors the platform they truly needed and despite Delph reducing them down to nine wickets with 50 runs still required, Broad Oak displayed a steely resolve to register a memorable win at the reigning Champions.
Hoylandswaine have now extended their lead at the top to ten points and dominated throughout their match away at Barkisland. The leaders decided to bat first after winning the toss and made their hosts suffer in the sun piling the highest Premiership score of the afternoon; 358-6. A magnificent second wicket stand between Chris Holliday (117) and SP Singh (79) set the tone and they were helped by late inputs by captain Ryan Robinson (52) and Muhammed Bilal (40no). Barkisland, despite an encouraging opening ten overs, had no answer to challenge the huge total and could only manage to reach 216ao with Gurman Rhandawa continuing his good season with 4-60.
Moorlands enjoyed a routine home win, which has typified their strong season to date, by putting sorry Skelmanthorpe to the sword. Skelmanthorpe returned to the bottom of the table after Kirkburton's win after Moorlands put too much on the board. Their 282ao was injected by a trio of splendid innings' by Jared Maxwell (72), Cameron French (74) and Liam Smith (51). Skelmanthorpe's reply hit the buffers with Michael Padgett (6-44) and Dave Winn (3-37) proving influential with the ball, despite Australian Liam O'Dea's (55) defiance.
Another team who are helping themselves to their best season in years is Honley and they skirted past Thongsbridge at Far End Lane. Timmy Taylor (85) led the way supported by Brett Randall (59) and the experienced Danny Howard (27) as Honley set a daunting 238-8 on their spacious field. Visitors Thongsbridge never challenged and could only muster 105ao in reply. Sam Denton (4-39) keeping things tight for Honley.
Scholes are a team in the groove right now and Armitage Bridge had no answer to Josh Brook (4-28) and Tom Chadwick's (4-26) proficiency with the ball as they were dismissed for 157 at Chapelgate. Matthew West (51) and Andrew Gledhill (53) tried hardest to resist for Armitage Bridge but that score wasn't going to stiffly test a Scholes batting order that's started to gel thanks to new arrival's Devon Smith (31) and Joe Carter (63no). Another six points most welcome for Scholes who are in a rich vein of form in their climb up the table.
Jedi Championship
Meltham were the big winners in a vital relegation crunch match away to Lascelles Hall. Mian Israr-Ul-Haq (60) and Jack Moulson (44) were the bedrock of Meltham's 200ao and any doubts on whether it was enough were swiftly put to bed as Mudasar Butt (3-36) and Ibrar Hussain (4-14) scythed through the Lascelles Hall ranks. Meltham romped to six precious points, conceding none to their relegation rivals and it ensures Meltham jump over Lascelles Hall in their fight against the drop.
Mirfield Parish Cavaliers are freewheeling at the top and their latest win away to Linthwaite was made all the more sweeter after second and third-placed Rastrick and Shelley both slipped up. The Cavaliers batting first laid down a testing enough score of 261-6 which was enough to see off Linthwaite who will need to keep looking over their shoulders in the bottom half of the table. David Bolt (34), Nazar Hussain (65no) and J Hardcastle (45no) all adding input for the leaders. They managed 185ao in reply, wicketkeeper Saifur Rehman (85) the only Linthwaite batsman to apply themselves.
Rastrick's recent good run of form came to an abrupt end in an entertaining clash at Round Hill at home to inconsistent Slaithwaite. Rastrick may have felt pleased by putting on 256-8, Jacob Waterson (79) the highlight for Rastrick but they were made to pay for some loose bowling in the opening overs of the restart as Slaithwaite first piled on the pressure and then survived a mini-collapse. However Gareth Wallace (51no) and Alex Walker (49no) then combined and helped guide Slaithwaite to an excellent win.
Elland recovered after disappointment last week to turn the tables on Shelley in the battle of two sides still reeling after their relegation from the Premiership. Shelley set Elland 203-8 to chase which isn't a gimme on Elland's flat, open ground with Louis Sykes (29) and Hasnet Yousaf (64) the main scorers for visitor's Shelley. However Elland paced their innings well and led by Mitchell O'Brien (74) they chalked up a welcome win.
Almondbury Wesleyans heaped more trouble on Holmfirth who are mired in relegation worries and also moved back into second place with a strong run chase. A magnificent century for Chris Cowell (111) was as good as it got for Holmfirth and their total of 262-8 was chased down by the promotion-seeking Wesleyans. They reached 268-7 thanks to another fine century, this time from Bryn Jenkins (106no).
Craig Glover put in a polished all-round performance with bat and ball to propel Clayton West to a one-sided victory at home to bottom-placed Kirkheaton. They set 249-8 for their visitors with Glover (45), Kyle Hitchman (53) and Alex Rank (73) all flaying the Kirkheaton bowlers. Glover (5-49) then took a 'five-fer' as Kirkheaton melted away for 142ao in reply.
Cedar Court Conference
Things might just be getting interesting at the top of the table after leaders Lepton Highlanders succumbed to a damaging defeat at Fernside; home of Almondbury. There was a delayed start after the umpires weren't satisfied with the strip prepared and ordered a new one to be re-cut and rolled. Almondbury batting first then stumbled their way to 179ao but it was more than enough as Lepton wilted under a bowling assult by Almondbury's Colin Harris (3-34) and Mirza Tehseen (4-40), crashing to 111ao.
Marsden are the main beneficiaries of Lepton's misfortune as they secured a tight win at home to Hall Bower to narrow the gap to just one point. Their 209-9 had to be staunchly defended as Danny Clee (4-53) and Imran Malik (3-44) tempered Hall Bower's rally and they finished 12 runs short on 197ao.
The highest overall total of the day came after Denby ploughed 425-4 at home to Birkby Rose Hill. Overseas professional Zahid Nissar (248no) helping himself to highly impressive double century but still remarkably 32 runs short of the Conference record. Astonishingly Birkby Rose Hill, undaunted by the intimidating total, took the game to Denby racking up 326ao with no less than seven batters racking up more than 25 runs for their personal tallies.
Cumberworth United sneaked an astonishing one-run win away at Emley Clarence. They set 233ao and Emley finished on 232ao in their reply. Mirfield won at home to Thurstonland with Adam Goldthorpe (121) cannoning a century as Mirfield lay down 236ao. Thurstonland not troubling the scorers with their 122ao in reply despite a half-century from Malik (53). Denby Dale skittled out opponents Upperthong for a lowly 63 thanks to an astonishing eight wicket haul by Sam Tyas (8-17). Upperthong's low total proved slightly trickier than it should to get as Denby Dale reached 64-5 in reply.
