By Jamie Harrison
Kirkburton’s Andrew Smith held his nerve against Thongsbridge to win a gripping contest at Miry Lane and move them second in the table following Jack Kelly’s sublime century.
A ruthless bowling performance was enough for leaders Moorlands to defeat struggling Scholes. Talismanic Shepley skipper Danny Glover hit Honley for six and Barkisland bounced back to crush Mirfield Parish Cavaliers.
Thongsbridge v Kirkburton
Kirkburton moved up to second in the Premiership by edging out Thongsbridge in an engrossing climax at Miry Lane. Jack Kelly’s maiden century for visiting Burton gave them a handsome first innings total to defend as he got stuck into Thongsbridge’s bowling.
Western Australian Kelly hit a wonderful 114 from 119 balls, mostly along the ground as Kirkburton set 243ao with Roscoe Tahttil and Craig Fletcher both contributing 30s.
Raven-Hill brothers Tom and Ben both took three wickets each as they fought to remove the key wicket. The home side looked poised nicely as they made their way to 146-2 thanks to decent early work by former Kirkburton youngster Rory France (43).
Jiveshen Pillay continued to impress as he led the reply until he was dismissed on 54 and then the home side’s challenge ran out of impetus.
Jack Lees (44) also fell and it was left to Kirkburton’s Andrew Smith to hold his nerve with Thongsbridge unable to find the boundary they needed from the final over. A psychological barrier by moving off bottom with a bonus point was at least some consolation for the hosts.
Moorlands v Scholes
Moorlands moved one point clear at the top of the table by dismantling visitors Scholes, bowling them out for 140. For the visitors, the damage was terminal at 17-5 with bowlers Marcus Walmsley (4-29) and Jon Rudge (3-36) persistent thorns in the visitors’ side.
Ben Tighe (50) registered a half-century and Jake Lockwood (49) fell short as they tried in vain to get a substantial score to defend. Amogh Bhaktal’s 60 and Siraj Sajid’s precise half century was ultimately enough as Moorlands boxed off an easy win on 141-4.
Shepley v Honley
Danny Glover’s destructive bowling made it a miserable afternoon at Marsh Lane for Honley. The shrewd Shepley skipper claimed 6-21 as they surprisingly managed to defend their fragile-looking first innings total of 96ao against a side bristling with batting power.
Oliver Davidson’s 32 turned out to be crucial in the end with Honley’s new bowler Joel Size (4-27) collecting his 20th wicket. Honley’s reply was left in tatters when they crashed to 20-7 after Glover’s fierce barrage and they eventually withered to just 57.
Broad Oak v Skelmanthorpe
Skelmanthorpe’s Prayash Kumar Singh hit 71 and went on to take 2-68 to go third in the table with a hard fought victory at Broad Oak.
Kian Schwartz scored 65 and opener Jack Newby hit 40 before being run out in the away side’s 251-9. Adam France enjoyed his best outing so far by taking 5-48 and Broad Oak beetled their way to 121-2 when Dominic Finn was out on 65. Skelmanthorpe started to wrestle control of the match and Harlan Greig claimed 3-64 as Oak finished 19 runs short in the reply.
Hoylandswaine v Almondbury Wesleyans
Hoylandswaine put last Sunday’s disappointment behind them by outmuscling Almondbury Wesleyans. Openers Asif Iqbal and Furqan Shafiq both squandered fifties and ideal opportunities – by being out on 49 as the home side set 237-9.
Matt Henshaw picked up 5-60 for Almondbury Wes who were missing the influence of skipper Bryn Jenkins and prolific opener Matthew West. Swaine spinner Pragam Sharma took control to claim 5-37 as he ran through Weseyans, for whom opening bat Tom Binns top scored with 26 as they finished on 176ao.
Barkisland v Mirfield Parish
Barkisland got back to winning ways at home to Mirfield Parish Cavaliers in a match they dominated. Pace bowler Numan Akbar took 4-38 as visiting Parish were put under scrutiny and Tom Olsen carved out 38 for his team as Parish were all bowled for 141.
Aussie Charlie Mitchell chalked up 57, his first half century for Barkisland, to reply with 145-2. Luke Bridges finished the job with 37no.
