Hapless Elland fought a brave rearguard action to snatch an unlikely victory from a doomed position away at second-placed Mirfield. Chasing 167-9, their chances looked slim at 85-7 but Tariq Sajid (31) and Mason Young (34no) pulled them back from the brink as they won on the last ball with 170-9. Gareth Sanders had earlier taken four wickets.
Stevie Butters Jnr and Parth Naik combined for leaders Marsden who extended their lead at the top of the Conference to a mammoth 15 points. Butters Jnr hit 41 in Marsden’s fragile 145ao at home to Cumberworth United, where George Smith claimed 4-35. However, Naik’s 6-25 reinforced Marsden’s dominance this season, on their way to bowling out the visitors for just 85.
Elsewhere in the division, Linthwaite’s Zahed Ahmed (77) and Tahseen Suleman (52) cracked half-centuries to help them to a win away at Hoylandswaine seconds. Old stager Ranjith Bandula-Don picked up 6-61 but Linthwaite chased down Swaine’s 213 for the loss of eight wickets. Faheem Hussain claimed 5-41 for the ‘Linfitters’. Meanwhile, Hall Bower saw off Edgerton and Dalton by bowling them out for a lowly 42 then knocking them off for two wickets. Darrel Sykes (4-24) and Tom Baxter with 5-17 were in the thick of the action in a rapidly-completed match.
Upperthong cascaded to the bottom of the table after being blasted out by an improving Thurstonland side who continued to steadily climb the table. The home side were dismissed for 91 with Jack England taking 4-14 and Jordan Thackray collecting 3-15. Thurstonland replied with 94-3. Finally, Kirkheaton edged out visiting Emley Clarence thanks to Sam Atkinson’s 4-42 and Archie Stokes impressing with 3-29. Tom Gledhill guided his team to victory with 39.
In the Alliance, Grant Jones rolled back the years on his return to help Delph out with a brilliant all-round display. He restored his side with a crucial 29 as Delph posted 189ao and then took a brilliant 6-36 to see off Barkisland, who were bowled out for 120. Richard Simpson’s 45 was also a vital contribution as Delph collected their fourth win of the campaign.
Skelmanthorpe lead the way at the top of the table after Ryan Robinson (75) put the skids under his former team Kirkburton. The table-toppers put up 191, despite the attentions of Javaid Ahmad (5-27) before Kirkburton were knocked over for 137 with Adam Dollive taking 4-38 and Ryan’s son Taylor Robinson chipping in with 3-31. Denby Dale first team rose to third as they calmly chased Golcar 2XI’s 193-9. Atif Kamran carried his bat for 82no with opening partner Ryan Geldart making 60.
Thongsbridge 2XI are now five points adrift after they lost away at Almondbury 1XI. Australian professional Bernard Snyman helped himself to 5-12 as Thongsbridge were rolled for 67. The hosts lost five wickets chasing the short target but Snyman’s 22no carried them over the line. Scholes defended 178-9 at home to Honley with captain Guy Pearson top scoring with 86. Joe Elvidge and Jacob Littlewood both grabbed three apiece with former Scholes man Mark Floyd hitting 38 before then picking up 4-35 with the ball.
Moorlands made it ten wins from ten matches with another crushing win, this time at home to Hall Bower. Just a week after clattering 176 Andrew Fortis followed up with 160 in this apparent mismatch. It took him 109 balls with 10 fours and 15 sixes smashed as they set 243-7. George Crowther and Jake Hewitt ran though Bower with four scalps each.
Tom Battams hammered 90 and then went on to take two wickets as Almondbury Wesleyans stayed in the promotion hunt with a high scoring win at home to Shepley. Jake Jagger made 59 and took 3-54 for the visitors who lost by 40 runs.
Edgerton & Dalton and Birkby Rose Hill are tied on 50 points at the top of Alliance Three after they both registered their latest victories. Raza Shah notched a half-century scoring 52 for E&D and then picked up 4-23 in a 38 run win at home to Denby in third. Conversely, Birkby nudged past Marsden with Umar Tariq and Sohail Rana both collecting three wickets in a close low scoring match. Denby Dale remained winless at the bottom after Meltham’s Harry Edwards put them to the sword with a brutal century. Edwards scored 101no from 75 balls as they racked up 258-5. Denby Dale were dismissed for 141 with James Parker, Jayden Watson and Charlie Richards all sharing the wickets.
Ratrick maintained their course towards promotion from Alliance Four with a decisive success at Holmbridge. Richard Hathaway claimed 3-24 and Logan Swann thrashed 80no as they romped home by seven wickets. Emley Clarence’s Simon Sykes crashed 93no in their conquest at Thurstonland.
