SCHOLES gained a priceless 120-run home win over bottom-club East Ardsley to boost their survival hopes in the Central Yorkshire League Premier Division.
The six-point haul not only saw Scholes move nine points clear of their rivals but saw them up to third-bottom, a point ahead of Mirfield Parish Cavaliers who lost at title-chasing Wrenthorpe.
Scholes posted a challenging 303-8, led by a superb ce
ntury from Arun Balasubramanian, who smashed 15 fours and two sixes in 102 from 95 deliveries.
Openers Craig Wood (35) and James Tucker (27) gave the innings a solid start before Matthew Barnes blasted 77 from 58 balls, including seven fours and four sixes, to set Ardsley a massive task.
Early wickets for Dan Clifton (3-33) and Daniel Hope (2-29) put Ardsley on the back foot as Scholes took charge.
Wilden Cornwall made 22 and captain Danny McTernan a defiant 59 but after Balasubramanian (1-25) struck, Barnes (4-29) mopped up the innings to give the home side a crucial win in their battle for survival.
Parish always knew it would be tough at Wrenthorpe and Michael Padgett (22) and Graeme Winn (28) led the way as they were bowled out for 146 by Tom Glover (5-35) and David Paynter (4-36).
Solid batting by Jonny Kirk (21), Garry Fellows (36), Paynter (29) and Tonito Willett (22no) saw Wrenthorpe to 147-4 despite the efforts of Brad Drake (3-43) and Padgett (1-22).
Six points for Wrenthorpe leaves them second, a point behind Methley after they lost by 104 runs at Townville, who are now in third place, four points behind the leaders.
Birstall kept their hopes of retaining the title alive with a 39-run victory at Batley.
More than 600 runs were racked up at Mount Pleasant but Birstall took four points to see them go fifth, eight points behind the leaders.
After Rob McFarlane and Stewart Clifton (20) put on 51, McFarlane and Vikram Rathour added 103 before the opener was out for 69.
Rathour continued to take on the attack and fired a century, reaching 108 from 85 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes.
Paul Marlow added 48 before being run out while an unbeaten 27 from Paul Blakeley helped Birstall to 327-7.
Mohammed Afzal claimed 3-97, Kashif Talib 2-66 and Mohammed Tahir 1-38.
Batley made a great start in reply with Vipin Chourisya and Tarik Patel (44) sharing an opening stand of 107 before Ayaz Seedat (34) helped push the score along.
Ebrahim Laher made 15 and at 191-2 the home side looked well in touch before Mick Kaye (2-38) and Marlow (3-36) struck to see Batley lose five wickets for 53 runs and slip to 244-7.
Crucially Marlow dismissed Chourisya, who hit 13 fours in his 92, and Mohammed Arshad (33) and despite late knocks by Mohammed Afzal (21) and Tariq Hussain (26no) Batley closed on 288-8.
