The reigning T20 Trophy holders Moorlands have been eliminated from the group stage in one of the surprises of the competition. Hoylandswaine, who they defeated in the final last season, still have work to do after they slipped to a loss against the current T20 Shield holders Skelmanthorpe.
Group 1
Moorlands’ two losses from the first two matches will see them play no part in the knockout stages with one group match still to play. Their defence got off to the worst possible start after Almondbury Wesleyans’ Will Binns’ 71 set up a 158-6 total which they finished 16 runs short of. Youngster Harry Shaw took 4-19 in Moorlands’ 142ao. They were again bowled out at home to local rivals Mirfield Parish Cavaliers for 151 which Cavaliers knocked off for the loss of four wickets. Opener David Bolt (56) did the damage. The two losses, coupled with the fact they face unbeaten Thongsbridge in their final game means there is no chance of qualification.
Thongsbridge have two wins from two and will qualify no matter what happens in the third round of group matches, although the home advantage by finishing top of their group will be a big incentive at home to Moorlands. They dispatched Mirfield Parish quite comfortably by setting up a large 230-5 first innings total which the hosts lost by 64 runs. Two half centuries by Ben Raven-Hill (58 & 3-43) and Pragam Sharma (51 & 2-25) led the way. They followed that up with an equally overwhelming win at home to Almondsbury Wesleyan. Sharma was in the thick of the runs again with 41 whilst Richard Marshall scored 48 in Thongsbridge’s 166-3 reply to the visitors’ 161-5.
It’s a straight shootout for the second qualification spot when Wesleyans take on Mirfield Parish on Tuesday 21 June at Kaye Lane.
Group 2
Honley, who will be aiming to go one step closer to the near misses in the 2018 and 2019 finals, have started the campaign with a 100% record. Jeremy Hackett (53) and Timmy Taylor (54) both notched half-centuries on their way to defeating Broad Oak in week one. Left-armer Taylor then took 3-38 as Oak were dismissed for 141 in reply to Honley’s 172-7. They almost equalled that total at home to Delph & Dobcross who fielded no less than six players aged 18 or under. Taylor scored his second half-century with 58 as Delph’s young bowlers battled to contain the hosts. He followed that up with 2-25 in Delph’s 140-7 reply where Nathan Jones hit the evening’s highest score of 62.
Delph should have Lucas Selby and Mosun Hussain back when they travel to Broad Oak for the right to continue progress. They both hammered massive scores in week one as Delph somehow overhauled Slaitwaite’s gargantuan first innings total of 244-4. Overseas Blair McKenzie clubbed 118 from 57 balls with 8 fours and 10 sixes peppering the boundaries and Finlay Brook was equally as devastating by hammering 96 from 46 deliveries (6 fours, 9 sixes). All this from a position of 16-3! The bustling Tuesday evening crowd were granted a feast of entertainment as Delph surpassed that with a reply of 245-4 and just three balls remaining. Lucas Selby took time out from his GCSE revision to plunder his debut 1XI century by blasting 114 off 54 balls (12 fours and 7 sixes). Mosun Hussain kept up the tempo with a 54-ball 88 before Adnan Ghani followed his 3-35 up with a quickfire 16 from 5 balls to secure a remarkable win.
Slaithwaite were then outmuscled by Colne Valley neighbours Broad Oak away from home after they ran 34 runs short of Oak’s 187-7. Fletcher Coutts (47) and Alex Slack (40no) were the big hitters for the home side then Coutts claimed 2-20 as Slaithwaite were strangled on 153-5.
Group 3
Hoylandswaine suffered a setback after losing against Skelmanthorpe that blew the group wide open. The match was played at neutral Cawthorne where four overs of Sam Tyas (3-17) knocked them off stride during Swaines pursuit of 123-7. Skelmanthorpe’s Jack Newby also grabbed three scalps as Hoylandswaine were seen off for just 90. Hoylandswaine defeated Shepley at Marsh Lane a week earlier thanks to Chris Holliday’s breathless 94no from 53 balls. Max Morley took 3-21 as Hoylandswaine replied with 151-4 to Shepley’s 147-7.
Kirkburton face Hoylandswaine in the final group match after taking two wins from two and currently lead the section. Andrew Smith top scored with 48 as the home side posted 202–8 before three Kirkburton bowlers took a pair of wickets each as Skelmanthorpe were restricted to 143-9. Aaron Moore followed up his 2-22 with 2-18 as they breezed past Shepley in their second match. Kirkburton put up 156-5 this time with Sri Lankan Roscoe Thattil notching an unbeaten 57 before Shepley were kept to 137-5.
The final round of fixtures sees Hoylandswaine travel to unbeaten Kirkburton and Shepley entertaining Skelmanthorpe with all four teams in the mix for a quarter-final place.
Group 4
Scholes top the group with two wins from two, however they will still need either a win or go down with a hefty runs per wicket average to nail down a place. They host Golcar in the final match where a win for the away side, coupled with a Barkisland victory over Armitage Bridge will see three clubs sat on 8 points. Barkisland hold a vastly superior runs per wicket average to Golcar or Armitage Bridge so a win for them at home to Bridge should see them progress along with Scholes.
The Chapelgaters have been on their travels for the opening two matches where they nipped home at Barkisland in week one before dismantling Armitage Bridge in their second match. Bradley Birkhead has been their star performer after he blitzed a wholesome 68 at Barkisland in Scholes’ successful chase of Barkisland’s 157-7. He followed that with an impressive 76 at Armitage Bridge as Scholes mounted up 199-6 before keeping their opponents on a tight leash who finished with 135-7.
Golcar’s Muhammed Ali took his fine league form into the shorter format with a 56 at home to Armitage Bridge. The visitors were bowled out for a lowly 94 with Golcar making 95-5 in reply. He also top scored in their loss at home to Barkisland with 42, who made 135-9 batting first. However Barkisland had little trouble securing their first win of the competition as Luke Bridges drove his way to 55 in the reply for the loss of two wickets.
How is it worked out if it’s level?
If two teams finish level on points, a runs per wicket calculation will decide on table placings.
A team's runs and wickets for is divided by their runs and wickets against. So for example, Barkisland’s two scores were 157-7 and 139-2. 157+139 ÷ 9 = 32.888. Their scores against were 159-7 and 135-9 (an average of 18.375. Their total average is then 32.888 ÷ 18.375 = 1.789.
What is the Quarter Final draw?
1 - Winner Group 1 v Runner Up Group 4
2 - Winner Group 2 v Runner Up Group 3
3 - Winner Group 3 v Runner Up Group 2
4 - Winner Group 4 v Runner Up Group 1
And the Semi-Final?
Winner of Match 1 v Winner of Match 2
Winner of Match 3 v Winner of Match 4
