Birstall looking up after a second win

The Leeds Road side followed up their win over Osssett with a comfortable win over Wakefield Saint Michaels.

Saif Ul Rehman led the Birstall bowling attack with a fine spell which yielded 4-39. He was supported by Michael Kaye with 3-35 as St Michaels were bowled out for miserly 155, John Bowett top-scored with 62.

Birstall’s batsmen reached the target with three wickets to spare a victory which moved them to ninth in the table.

Liversedge won the battle of the unbeaten teams in Division One as they secured a one wicket win at Batley.

Mohammed Tahir gave Batley a boost with a top score of 54. He was supported by Mohammed Asif Hussain who made 40 on their way to 177.

Liversedge’s bowlers David Winter, Stephen Lane and Tom Smith took three wickets apiece to keep the brake on Batley’s score.

Winter went on to lead the visitors to victory with score of 40, he was supported by Max Power with 38 and Euan Hardcastle contributed 30.

Huzaifa Patel kept Batley in it with a persistent haul of 5-32 but Liversedge edged to victory with a wicket to spare.

Liversedge are second, a point behind Carlton, while Batley dropped to fifth.

East Ardsley put in a great team effort to overcome Oulton. Ashley Pearson did the damage with 3-52 as Oulton were bowled out for 235.

Geoff Hunt led Ardsley’s reply with 56 while Andy Langley chipped in with 47 and Mark Heald added 40 as they reached 236-6 to help them to seventh in the table.

Moorlands are fourth after an emphatic 95 run win over Methley A. Electing to bat first Moorlands openers made a firm foundation with Michael Rounding making 32 and Andrew Fortis 28 before the home side were bowled out for 188, Andrew Walker orchestrated Methley’s downfall with a haul of 4-34 while Eddie Hoyle contributed a swift 2-7 as Methley A fell for 93.

Back in the Premier Division Mirfield Parish Cavaliers moved up to sixth after a five wicket success over Northowram Fields.

Danny Hope and Michael Padgett each took three wickets as Fields were bowled out for 136. Milan Gunarathne led the Parish charge with an unbeaten 54 with David Blakeley just behind on 51.

Methley lead the top flight, five points ahead of Wrenthorpe. Hunslet Nelson are fourth after a six wicket win over Townville.

Tommy Roy scored 80 as Nelson chased down Townille’s target of 202.

In Division Two Hopton Mills are chasing the top three after a seven run win over Gildersome. Mark Aston fired the Mills innings with 80, including 14 fours. He had support from Chris Scott who contributed 40.

Martin Morley was the pick of the Gildersome bowlers with a haul of 4-59. He also added 32 to the Gildersome total which was boosted by an innings of 59 by James Glover.

However, Mills Philip Scott 5-49 kept the Gildersome batsmen in check and they fell seven runs short of a victory target.

Scholes slipped to fifth after a five wicket setback by Wrenthorpe A.

Paul James top scored with 28 as Scholes were bowled out for a paltry 102.

Oliver Newton’s 5-23 did most of the damage for Wrenthorpe who raced to 107-5. Matthew Barnes did his utmost with a fine haul of 3-21.

Birstall A are up to fourth following a one wicket win over Buttershaw St Pauls.

Dominic Cleghorn led the Birstall charge with a haul of 5-42 as St Pauls were bowled out for 170. David Fozard 34 helped Birstall to 173-9.

There was some big hitting as Batley A steamed to 232 with Ebrahim Kayat making 25 and Jobis Patel 29.

Dale Shaw took an impressive 3-13 and also made 51 but it was in vain as his side Netherton were bowled out for 128 as Ashif Munir 4-35 and Sadik Karolia 4-70 came into their own for Batley.