Jack Newby’s second century of the season wasn’t enough to prevent Skelmanthorpe from slipping to their third straight loss on an unseasonal sweltering final afternoon. Moorlands inflicted revenge on their Sykes Cup conquerors, Broad Oak with a decisive victory. A brilliant Yaasar Imtiaz performance for Scholes pipped Kirkburton and Almondbury Wesleyans bookended a season to forget for Honley by completing the double over their rivals at Far End Lane. Relegated Mirfield Parish Cavaliers may look to the new season with relish following a convincing success at Shepley but Thongsbridge will have a rebuild in mind after they finished the season rock-bottom following a demoralising defeat at home to Hoylandswaine.
Star batsman Jack Newby (above) set his side up for a remarkable chase down at Barkisland by scoring a sublime hundred, but his teammates couldn’t follow it up to complete the victory. The visitors had already chalked up a battling win in the Sykes Cup second round in May and Barkisland worked them hard once again with three batsmen making fifties on the way to the hosts’ 287-8. Matty Weston (57), Jasper Male (69) and Numan Akbar (63) all contributed heavily as the top seven batsmen cashed in with double figure scores with Skelmanthorpe’s Kian Schwartz (3-86) doing his best to control the deluge. Shat opener Newby was out for 113 from 109 balls with the score on 200-4, setting the match up for an enthralling finish but home skipper Jake Finch blazed through their inexperienced tail to take 5-66. The visitors’ clawed back two points from their 264-9 reply, which sealed their second-placed finish and capped a fine season overall. However, the way their season has petered out may leave cause for concern going into next season.
League juggernaut Moorlands were at their ruthless best as they completed their best season yet by mercilessly slaying their Sykes Cup conquerors Broad Oak. Fifties scored by Shoukat Ali (50) and Amogh Bhaktal (53, above) set up their win with contributions coming throughout the order.Cameron Todd, man of the match in Oak’s famous final victory, claimed 3-43 and Dan Taylor virtually matched it with 3-74 but Moorlands’ 283ao was too big a hill to climb. Daniel Rushworth made 23 with Dom Finn who laid anchor for 66 but their middle order was pummelled by Marcus Walmley who finished with 5-18 as Oak were dismissed for 197.
Kirkburton’s six-match unbeaten run came crashing to a halt at home to Scholes whose Yaasar Imtiaz (above) was in fine form with bat and ball. The former Skelmanthorpe player made 89 to help set up Scholes’ 248ao with Brad Birkhead supporting with 34 and Ben Tighe hitting 46 down the order. Aaron Moore’s 4-39 helped peg the visitors back but Kirkburton’s poor start put Scholes in control with Josh Brook taking 3-43. Jack Kelly carved a fine 81 but Imtiaz got to work with the ball to claim 5-50. Moore had time to crash an entertaining 27 but Kirkburton were eventually bowled out of an entertaining contest for 225.
A forgettable campaign by Honley dragged to its conclusion after Almondbury Wesleyans scored a notable double against their nearby rivals. A good team ethic has been the hallmark of Wesleyans’ success since promotion in 2021 and every batsman got off the mark with Chris Abbey (60) top scoring in the visitors’ 196-9 total. Simon Kelly’s 3-68 helped keep the away side in range but Honley’s batting brittleness has been a constant irritation for much of their campaign and they relinquished a winnable position with an anaemic lower-order showing. Lewis Evans scored 70 not out to add to his 2-59 but could only watch on helplessly as Matt Henshaw eliminated Honley’s key batsmen to finish with 3-39. With the score at 149-4, Danny Moorhouse (above) put on the squeeze to pick up 2-36 and finish the season as leading wicket-taker in all competitions as Honley were restricted to 178-8.
Nick Sharp’s score of 79 shot relegated Mirfield Parish Cavaliers to their third consecutive victory at freefalling Shepley. Sharp’s 82-ball stint was crucial as Shepley’s Sam Askey bagged 5-34 to puncture Parish’s progress at Marsh Lane with the visitors dismissed for 181. Shepley’s Dan Wood (above) signed off his retirement with 45 but the home side were taken down by former Kirkburton man Sharp’s acute bowling. He combined with Nazakat Khan (5-21) to plunder 3-38 and run through Shepley who were all out for 143.
Bowlers Max Morley (above) and Adam Sylvester made short work of rock-bottom Thongsbridge to back up Hoylandswaine’s recent T20 Trophy success with a final day victory at Miry Lane. Holme-valley native Morley nabbed 4-27 and Welsh Valleys resident Sylvester helped himself to 4-11 as Thonsgbridge were blitzed on their way to 87ao. Asif Iqbal made no mistake finishing with red figures as he batted through for 52no.
