By Jamie Harrison
Most matches were wiped out on the delayed opening day of the Huddersfield Cricket League’s Premiership season. However, two teams – Skelmanthorpe and Barkisland – took advantage by registering their first wins.
At Almondbury Wesleyans, visitors Skelmanthorpe set down a strong message to others by easily overcoming their hosts, setting 198-6 from 35 overs.
New Indian overseas player Prayash Kumar Singh made a stellar start to life at his new club with a superb 81 from 65 balls. This was supported by keeper George Sommerville’s 40no.
Wesleyans’ frail batting was a clear area to improve on this season but this continued as visitors Skelmanthorpe’s prudent bowling applied the killer finish, bowling out the home side for 112. Paul Cummins (5-20) was Skelmanthorpe’s star with the ball.
Batting was difficult at Barkisland but they registered a comfortable win in a low-scoring opener to the season at home to Scholes. Oliver Pearson took 5-20 for Scholes as Barkisland totalled just 118ao.
Cameron Rensburg’s fluent 36no was the top score of the day. Scholes subsided under a withering barrage by new Barkisland captain Jake Finch who took 4-30 on the way to dismissing the visitors for 75.
There was no play possible at Mirfield Parish Cavaliers v Kirkburton, Hoylandswaine v Honley, Moorlands v Shepley or Broad Oak v Thongsbridge.
Meanwhile, Golcar’s start to life in the Championship was uncomfortable as they were held to a tie by spirited visitors Holmfirth.
Two teams relegated from the Premiership locked horns as Delph the home side overcame Armitage Bridge and Lascelles Hall chalked up an important first win at home to Slaithwaite.
Jack McNamara’s Golcar side may need to find a higher gear as visiting Holmfirth made life difficult for them in a thrilling tie at Swallow Lane.
They needed to dig deep as Holmfirth’s Max Gummerson and Sam Roberts both claimed four wickets to bowl out the hosts for 104 just as they’d been done by Golcar in the first innings. Aussie duo Ryan Adams (4-23) and McNamara (4-24) both did the damage for Golcar in the first innings.
Adnan Ghani’s 4-16 demolished Armitage Bridge as Delph & Dobcross came out on top between two sides relegated from last season’s Premiership.
Had it not been for Jaycub Curtling’s gritty 40, Armitage Bridge’s 79ao would’ve been much lower but Delph sneaked home on 80-5 thanks to overseas man Nayyar Abbas (20no) following up his 2-wicket contribution in the first innings.
Lascelles Hall’s Tom Addy took 5-36 as Slaithwaite were left short chasing 207ao. Several contributed for Hall first up with Joel Barnett (37) top scoring. Sohail Butt, returning to Slaithwaite after a season at Armitage Bridge, matched that total with the bat, along with taking 2-41, but Slaithwaite were snagged well short on 164ao.
Denby swept aside Meltham by bowling out the visitors for a modest 119. Tom Sanders took 3-29 and then saw his side home by finishing not out. New signing Saqib Matlub’s 37 and Faisal Javed (38) made sure of an opening day victory in their 120-5 reply.
No play was possible at Rastrick v Clayton West or Shelley v newly-promoted Birkby Rose Hill.
