A handful of teams managed to beat the weather in a largely rain-affected programme. Moorlands and Armitage Bridge were the only Premiership teams to see any play with the Mirfield-based side enjoying a handsome home victory against Armitage Bridge. Nearby in the Championship, Mirfield Parish Cavaliers came a cropper in a 26-over blast against visiting Lascelles Hall and in the Conference, Mirfield made it two from two after overcoming a stiff test against Cumberworth United.
Drakes Premiership
A magnificent seven-wicket haul for Moorlands’ James Stansfield made a mess of Armitage Bridge’s gameplan in the only top flight fixture to escape the weather. Stansfield (7-34) scythed through the Bridge ranks by first removing Jaycob Curtling (48) and then Robin Broom in consecutive balls following a decent platform laid by opener Saqib Matlub (56) to restrict the visitors to 175ao. It was a day Moorlands’ new acquisitions shined with opening batsman Shoukat Ali (69) and Australian Jason Grosvenor (58, main image) polishing off Stansfield’s earlier work to wrap up a second victory of the season. Moorlands made 179-3 from 30 overs in reply.
All other matches were abandoned without play.
Full Scores
*Broad Oak v Almondbury Wes - no play
*Delph & Dobcross v Kirkburton - no play
*Golcar v Shelley - no play
*Honley v Barkisland - no play
Armitage Bridge 175 (S Matlub 56, J Curtling 48, M van Bijon 41; J Stansfield 7-34)
*Moorlands 179-3 (S Ali 69, J Grosvenor 58no).
*Shepley v Hoylandswaine - no play
*Thongsbridge v Scholes - no play
Jedi Championship
Lascelles Hall skipped past a tough assignment at Mirfield Parish Cavaliers for their second win in a fortnight. After being put in to bat, they made a workmanlike 160-8 in a reduced 35 over match with opening bat Rana Naseer (57) making a half-century. The Parish reply never got going, particularly when Gavin Smith (4-27) took care of openers Tim Orrell (38) and David Bolt (1). Even the return of loyal overseas Nazar Hussain couldn’t provide a boost after he became a casualty to the rampant Smith. Tom Wightman (3-44) kept pressure on at the other end as Parish withered to 90ao.
Denby picked themselves up following the opening day setback by routing Almondbury on the rain rule in a match reduced to 28 overs per side. The Fernsiders laboured their way to 146-6 despite a solid contribution from Abdul Qader (40). The hosts quickly got themselves ahead of the required rate and when the conditions became untenable their 116-3 in 16 overs was enough for the win with Jack Jones’ (51) impressive half-century.
Elland skipper Jack Hendy settled his side after a rocky opening at Clayton West in a match which was ultimately ended by the rain.
Elland looked to be in a spot of early trouble at Clayton West after they were left floundering on 30-3. West-Indian Josh Ramdoo (35) and captain Jack Hendy (38no) calibrated the innings to 111-4 when the rain curtailed proceedings in the 18th over.
The only other play that could be managed was at Lidgett Lane where Marsden enjoyed a decent start away at Skelmanthorpe on 43-0 until rain terminally interrupted after 9 overs. Holmfirth v Lepton and Slaithwaite v Rastrick were abandoned with no play.
Full Scores
Elland 111-4
*Clayton West - match abandoned
Almondbury 146-6 [reduced to 116] (H Walker 30, A Qadir 40no)
*Denby 116-3 (J Jones 51no)
*Holmfirth v Lepton Highlanders - no play
Lascelles Hall 160-8
*Mirfield Parish Cav 90
Marsden 43-0
*Skelmanthorpe - match abandoned
*Slaithwaite v Rastrick - no play
Cedar Court Conference
Five wickets for Mirfield’s Asad Hamid (5-31) added Cumberworth United to their small, but growing list of scalps as Adam Goldthorpe’s men made it back-to-back wins. Visiting Cumberworth United could only make 127-6 from their 33 overs with opener Jack Maskill (39) top scoring. Beau McGuiness (45no) enjoyed a good home debut as Mirfield worked hard for their spoils by reaching 127-6 with exactly three overs remaining.
Another team who lead the table in its infancy are Upperthong who followed last weeks hard-fought victory with a more stress-free one away to Kirkheaton who are yet to find their feet. 131-8 in 40 overs was not likely to be enough to test the visitors where Greg Marsh (52no) and Tom Willians (61) found fertile ground to leisurely knock off the target with nine overs to spare. Upperthong making 134-1 for the win.
Runs flowed at the Welfare Ground as visiting Denby Dale kept out Emley Clarence in a riveting contest. The top four all applied themselves well with Matty Rammell (43), Tom Clarke (54), Hywel Senior (42) and Ibrar Hussain (69) supplying the runs as Dale made 238-6 in a 35 over match. Emley gave a good account of themselves with the bat as Luke Taylor (41), Kamran Saleem (59) and Mohammed Nabeel (44) all scored highly but couldn’t quite push themselves over the line on 228-7.
The intriguing challenge placed on Hoylandswaine 2XI saw them gain their first win of the season at home to Thurstonland. Kaleel Ahmed (85) looked to have helped Thurstonland set a testing first innings score of 180-4, however Mustafa Bashir put in a good all-round performance after taking 3-51 with the ball. He contributed 31 along with Mark Wright (90) to set up the win as Hoylandswaine 2XI made light work of the chase and reached 182-5 in 24 overs.
No play could be achieved at Linthwaite v Hall Bower or Meltham v Birkby Rose Hill.
Full Scores
Denby Dale 238-6
*Emley Clarence 228-7.
Thurstonland 180-4
*Hoylandswaine 2XI 182-5
*Kirkheaton 131-8
Upperthong 134-1
*Linthwaite v Hall Bower - no play
*Meltham v Birkby Rose Hill - no play
Cumberworth Utd 126
*Mirfield 127-6.