A huge century for Kirkburton’s Shiv Bhatoa wasn’t enough as they dropped points on leaders Moorlands by tying at Honley. The Mirfield derby went Moorlands’ way who opened up a two point gap at the top. Skelmanthorpe spluttered to defeat at Shepley and title-holders Hoylandswaine stealthily climbed the table with a victory at Barkisland. Scholes put distance between themselves and Holme Valley neighbours Thongsbridge with a crushing success to keep them rooted to the foot of the table.
Shiv Bhatoa stepped in to hammer a huge century for second-placed Kirkburton, but it wasn’t enough as a terrific tie was fought out between them and Honley. Bhatoa - who has played mostly second team cricket this season - filled in for Andrew Smith and carved a superb run-a-ball 136 containing 19 fours and 1 six. Wicket keeper Jonny Smith (main image) hit his second fifty for the club to propel Kirkburton to 259-7. Honley’s reply was paced well and were perhaps favourites to nick it after progressing to 207-3 in reply. Jack Byrne’s 3-53 injected life into Kirkburton’s bowling by removing dangerous Australian Lewis Evans for 81. Charlie Jakeman (above) was then run out on 50 to thrust the match into the balance. Honley, losing Timmy Taylor through injury has hampered progress, manage to salvage four points as they rounded on 259-9 at the death.
Moorlands forged a two point lead at the top with a crushing victory over near neighbours Mirfield Parish who struggled to contain them at the Memorial Ground. Prolific opener Shoukat Ali (100, above) crashed a 102 ball hundred with Marcus Walmsley looking equally as savage as they put on 111 for the first wicket. Walmsley’s 60 took him to 429 runs in just ten innings and James Rawlinson also got in the act with 52 as Moorlands sauntered to 335-6. Mohammed Suleman took 4-88 on an afternoon to forget as Parish wilted in the sunshine. Overseas Breyden Brehaut hit 66 in the reply with keeper Adam Spendelow helping himself to 54 with Moorlands letting scoreboard pressure do the work. Jon Rudge (5-64) looks set to overtake his 2022 tally of 40 wickets [with Carlton] soon and they were worthy winners in the end as Parish were bowled out for a spirited 243.
George Booth helped Shepley maintain their strong home record with a comfortable victory over third-place Skelmanthorpe at Marsh Lane. The impressive Yorkshire County prospect (above) made a studious 78 to lay the foundations of Shepley's win with his side setting 232-9. Australian Ollie Hing’s 43 and Tom Denton’s useful 31 gave them a comfortable cushion under the close attention of Prayesh Kumar Singh (5-76). Skelmanthorpe felt the heat in Shepley’s furnace as they slumped to 41-6 under pressure from bowlers Danny Glover (4-25) and Jack Mulhall (2-35). Harlon Greig (33) fared best for Skelmanthorpe but they were well beaten, dismissed for 123.
Hoylandswaine’s resurgence steadily continued as they saw off Barkisland thanks to an Asif Iqbal (above) century. The Bolton-based opener made 102 from 146 balls (15 fours, 2 sixes) to anchor Swaine’s innings although they were kept in check by Barkisland’s Numan Akbar (5-68) and Max Didgiunaitis (4-54). A disastrous mid-innings collapse swung the game Hoylandswaine’s way as Barkisland subsided from 68-2 to 86-6 in reply to their 225ao. Former Thongsbridge all-rounder Pragam Sharma claimed 4-34 and the wily Muhammad Azharullah along with Welsh import Adam Sylvester took control and three wickets apiece as Barkisland were bowled out for 153.
Almondbury Wesleyans remained in the drop zone after a battling 17-run loss at Broad Oak. Home skipper Fletcher Coutts (67) and keeper Alex Kaye (54, above) provided the fulcrum of Oak’s 214-9. Chris Abbey took 4-54 for the visitors and made a useful 36 in the reply. Wes desperately needed a batsman to carve a match winning score but they were left short despite overseas man Matthew Schubert’s 42 and Dan Moorhouse’s 31. Oak’s Alex Slack claimed 4-44 and Dan Taylor 3-44 as Oak manoeuvred their way to victory.
Scholes emphatically subdued rock-bottom Thongsbridge to push themselves further away from the relegation zone as they cruised to a 120-run win. Opener Nico Georgiou-Nicola (119, above) hit his first century of the season and his fourth for Scholes sending 12 fours and 6 maximums over the ropes in his 129-ball innings. Opening partner Mitchell Slattery made 73, putting on 202 for the first wicket as they tucked into Thongsbridge’s suffering bowlers. Ben Howitt’s 4-63 was the pick of the bunch as Scholes sashayed their way to 282-7. Jack Lees (41) perpetuated his impressive first season at Thongsbridge but they were distinctly second-best as spinner’s Yaasir Imtiaz (5-48) and Slattery (4-46) put the squeeze on their Holme Valley neighbours and waltzed towards a much-needed win.
