Cumberworth’s promotion chances hit a snag as they slipped to defeat at home to steadily improving Hoylandswaine 2XI. Former Darfield man Matthew Higgins compiled an epic 126 in 161 balls as Hoylandswaine set 220-7. Josh Ibbotson (70no) then fought back to earn two points for Cumberworth who fell short on 201ao. Ranjith Bandula-Don and Saif Ur-Rehman shared six wickets.
Conference leaders Marsden got back to winning ways at home to Hall Bower. Ali Rafiq hit 91no for the hosts with Parth Naik taking 5=40 for Marsden. Steve Butters Jnr checked out on 49 and Matty Butters scored 43 as Marsden glided to victory on 187-6.
In the other Conference matches, Mirfield’s Adam Goldthorpe crashed 118 off 85 balls to remain in touch with the promotion pack. They defended 204ao at Thurstonland who replied with 166ao with Naseer Saudagar and Josh Ramsey both taking three apiece. Upperthong’s Vinnie Jayasuirya hit 119 from 129 balls at Emley. Tom Mighall also carved 82 as they set 270-7 with Jamie Hopper taking 5-69. Emley shared their run output more equally as they chased with 273-6. Jacob Bonner (57) and Usman Shakir (61no) both registered fifties, letting Archie Walker (33) and Mirza Mobeen (30no) finish the job.
Faisal Iqbal claimed 4-40 for Edgerton & Dalton’s in a victory over Elland plunging them into more peril. They were bowled out for 162 before Muhammad Toseef made 43no in the reply for E&D. Linthwaite skipper Raheel Akhtar claimed 2-22 and scored 37no as they raced to a comfortable four wicket success at home to Kirkheaton.
In the Alliance, Delph & Dobcross put up a spirited performance at home to division leaders Skelmanthorpe who had captain Ben Dyson to thank. He hit 68 to guide them from a precarious 79-7 chasing Delph’s 178ao where Taylor Robinson claimed 4-46. Luca Pemberton (51) hit his third ever senior half-century for Delph and followed it up with an impressive 3-31. Cody Parr scored an unbeaten 69 for Armitage Bridge who defeated second-placed Scholes by 87 runs. George Brady enjoyed a ‘five-fer’ and Wayne Swift finished with 4-38.
Kirkburton’s Jamie Walker and Dale Winterbottom both claimed four wickets each in victory away at second-bottom Honley. Walker also scored 26 as they defended 145ao by bowling the hosts out for 125. First teams Almondbury and Denby Dale rounded off wins at Golcar and Barkisland respectively. Bilal Ahmad hit 55 for Almondbury and Ryan Geldart (52no) enjoyed a half century for Denby Dale.
Moorlands declared on a substantial 353-6 total at home to Cumberworth United to keep their 100% record in Alliance Two. Club stalwart Andrew Fortis bludgeoned 176 from 109 balls with 21 fours and 8 sixes hitting the environs. Hall Bower’s Issac Dyson had a fine afternoon by taking four wickets and hitting an unbeaten 34 as Bower kept promotion aims alive by winning at home to Cartworth Moor. Slaithwaite’s Evan Berry nabbed 3-26 and then anchored the reply with 86 as they won by four wickets at Clayton West. Shepley tied at home to Linthwaite with Jamie Dearnley scoring 42 for the hosts. Rauf Abdul Ali followed with a half-century for Linthwaite as the points were shared in a nailbiter. Ben Shufflebotham hammered 129 in 84 balls to lead Almondbury Wesleyans to a 67 run win away at Holmfirth where he took two wickets in the reply.
First went up against second in Alliance Three with leaders Edgerton & Dalton going above Birkby with a win at home. Mohammad Nadeem’s 110no won the match on the penultimate ball and in Alliance Four, Nasir Syed scored 75no for Cartworth Moor whose win at Mirfield closed the gap to Rastrick (who didn’t play) at the top to two points.
