Premier Division’s top two dodge the rain but suffer defeats

There were surprising results at the top of the Premier Division where the top two teams both lost, leaving Thornton still requiring two points to claim the championship.

Thornton travelled to SBCI and, in a 29 overs match, the hosts posted a challenging 176-8 as James Summerscales (73) and Gnanasambandham Arjuna (41) top-scored.

Nikki Hutchinson (72) apart, the rest of the visitors' batting performance was well below par and they could only reach 160-7 in reply, William Thickett taking 4-46.

If Luddendenfoot's performances over the last few weeks had been replicated earlier in the season they would not have been in relegation trouble.

They did however move off the bottom of the table after defeating Oxenhope by a very narrow three runs, in a match of 40 overs.

The Foot posted 215-9, with Jacob Whitehouse (81) and number 11, Sebastian Barron (54 not out), scoring the majority of the runs. Ben Howell took 4-41.

Oxenhope fell short on 212-8, Howell (67) and Joel Fothergill (64) top scoring after the score at one stage had stood at 78-6. Connor McGow (6-49) caused the majority of the batting problems.

The Foot remain in trouble and they need two further wins and results elsewhere to go their way to avoid the drop.

Triangle compiled 244-3 in only 34 overs at Shelf Northowram HT, with Christian Silkstone (90 not out) and James Callighan (82) the main contributors.

Hedge Top fell short at 214 all out with only skipper Harry Talbot (53) topping 30 runs as opposing captain Jake Dixon took 4-39.

Copley's home encounter with Booth only lasted 16 overs before heavy rain put paid to any further play, with the hosts having reached 61-1.

At Sowerby St Peter's not a ball was bowled due to an unfit ground, where Illingworth St Mary's were the scheduled visitors.

This unfortunately meant that the home team became the first team to be relegated, after just a season back in the top tier.

There was a similar damp story at Upper Hopton where the match against Bradshaw also failed to start.

Bradshaw now only require five points from their remaining two matches to retain their status in the division.

In the First Division, Blackley retained top spot with a comprehensive seven-wicket win at Mount, who limped to 73 all out as Jacob Linsel (6-21) enjoyed the damp conditions.

Blackley secured victory in the 15th over with a winning 76-3.

Promotion hopefuls Greetland lost a home to Southowram by 43 runs, in a 40 overs contest.

The Rams crafted 198-6, with Dean Crossley taking centre stage with a fine knock of 104 not out.

The hosts could only respond with 155 all out in reply as Finley Townsend (5-58) completed the win for the visitors.

High flyers Mytholmroyd travelled to Clayton and set the hosts a target of 179 all out. Ian Nicholson achieved personal best figures of 5-43.

Clayton replied with a winning 182-6 as Nicholson made it his all-round day with 49 runs as the Royd suffered a promotion setback.

Warley and Elland's 14-run win at Great Horton PC not only saved them from relegation but left the hosts in a very difficult position in the table, basically needing Oakworth, inactive at the weekend, to lose their last two matches for Horton to have any chance of staying up.

The visitors were grateful to a valuable knock of 45 not out from Jack Oldfield in a score of 153 all out. Richard Winn took 4-33.

That innings turned out to match-winning as Horton fell short at 139 all out, with Faheem Katana taking 5-21.

Cullingworth won their match, reduced to 35 overs, at Low Moor HT by nine wickets.

The Trinity scored 108-9 and the visitors made light work of their reply, or at least Will Rankin (60 not out) did, as only 20.3 overs were required to reach a winning 111-1.

With Queensbury already promoted from the Second Division, next week's clash, when Stones travel to Bridgeholme, will have an important bearing on the second promotion spot.

Stones were somewhat lucky they did not lose in the abandoned home encounter with Old Town.

They still required 51 runs from the last five overs, to secure a win, when the rains came.

Their top three scorers, Ethan Mosey (67), Zack Southwell (55) and Scott Sutcliffe (42) were by then back in the tent, Juma Khan having taken 4-25.

Previously, the Town had rattled up 279 all out with a superb knock of 167 runs coming from Shakir Malik, a career best. Tariq Mahmood added 50, with Harrison Johnson taking 5-59.

Bridgeholme travelled to Rastrick and beat Augustinians by 22 runs, in a match reduced to 35 overs.

The visitors posted 138-9, as Anish Narayanan took 4-19, and the visitors just failed to take maximum points as the last pair for Augustinians held out for 28 balls, taking the score from 105-9 to reach 116-9 in their allocated overs.

The best bowling performance of the day came from Bradley and Colnebridge's Kamran Khan who achieved personal best figures of 12-5-21-8, at home to Leymoor.

The hosts compiled 187 all out with Muhammad Faiz (59) and Jack Earnshaw (6-41) featuring.

However, it was Khan who stole the limelight as his contribution saw Leymoor skittled for 69 all out.

Champions-elect Queensbury suffered a heavy defeat at Walton Street as Sowerby Bridge won by 90 runs and, as a result, the Bridge moved from second bottom to sixth in the table.

Bridge posted 216-7, in a reduced 35 overs, with Jamie Heritage (43), John Brown (42) and Hassan Bostan (41) leading the scoring.

Queensbury were out of sorts as they could only reach 126 all out, with Furkaan Ali claiming 4-31.

This Sunday sees the Grand Finals Day of the league's T20 Competition, sponsored by The Shibden Mill Inn.

The venue is Mytholmroyd's Moderna Way ground with the Plate final, for First and Second Division clubs, commencing at 11am.

The Trophy final, for Premier Division clubs, follows at 3pm.

The Plate pits Mytholmroyd versus holders Oakworth, with the Trophy featuring holders Thornton, also winners in 2013 and 2023, taking on Illingworth St Mary's who are looking to lift the silverware for the first time.