Wilson quick to shine for champs

After a 35-run opening stand it all went wrong for last year’s middle-section champions who collapsed to 87 not out.

Sam Wilson was quickly to make an impact for Lane, taking six for 50, while their other new boy, Simon Collins, took two for nine.

Openers Andrew Pinfield (26 no) and Raqeeb Younis (62 no) knocked off the runs in double-quick time.

Blackley, who surprised many by finishing runners-up in 2013, lost by 22 runs at home to Warley.

Nolan Bottomley batted through for 118 not out for the visitors and Hassan (85 no) helped him add 152 and lift the total to 290 for two.

A stand of 116 between Reece Jennison (81) and Ian Hall (66) took Blackley to 182 for one but four wickets for Luke Duckitt and three for Usman Saghir tipped the scales Warley’s way.

Tom Earle hit an unbeaten 102 and Chris Overend 74 not out as Mytholmroyd piled up 376 for eight at Bradshaw, who have been hit by high-profile losses over the winter.

Chris White then took six for 43 to dismiss the hosts for 109.

An opening stand of 229 between Chris Shannon (131) and Rob Laycock (95 no) helped Booth to an impressive nine-wicket home win over Thornton, who had made 237 for seven with 80 not out from Josh Hutchinson.

Jack Gledhill was left one short of three figures as Triangle reached a victory target of 244 at Copley, Mark Baldwin (57) having top scored for the hosts.

The other promoted side, Southowram, were also beaten. They restricted visitors Sowerby Bridge to 187 but managed only 122 in reply with Ashton Richardson following his 33 with four for 48.

A whirlwind knock from Queensbury’s Amjad Ali transformed his side’s middle-section game at Outlane.

Bury were 61 for five when Ali came to the crease and crashed an unbeaten 146, including 16 maximums.

Josh Dougall made 42 not out at the other end as the visitors’ total climbed to 249 and Ali completed a good day with four for 16 as Outlane were dismissed for 84.

Another century-maker was Oxenhope’s Joe Ousey at home to Clayton.

Ousey (135), Tom Tetley (83 no) and 15-year-old Lewis Hopkinson (60) put Clayton’s bowlers to the sword, rattling up 370 for seven, and Adam Bailey and Liam Dyson took nine wickets between them as the visitors were rolled over for 119.

SBCI started to put their nightmare 2013 season behind them with a six-wicket home win over Low Moor in the middle section.

A game against last year’s clear-cut Division Two champions looked an interesting test for the relegated 2012 champions but they bowled Moor out for 133 and Tom Wood (35 no) and Tom Conway (31 no) helped wrap up a six-wicket win.

Northowram HT beat the other promoted side, Luddenden Foot, by 66 runs.

Keir Litjens’ 91 from 110 balls helped the Rams to a par score of 221 for nine, Mark Richardson bowling well up the hill for a well earned five-wicket haul.

That return was matched by Sam Gardner for the home side, Isaac Baldwin’s knock of 34 threatened to get the visitors close to their target before he fell to Gardner

Cullingworth could hardly have started life in the Halifax League in more impressive fashion than a nine-wicket home win over Shelf.

Opening bowler Graham Rankin took six for 10 off 11 overs as former Bradford Central League sparring partners Shelf capsized to 81 all out.

Rankin then hit an unbeaten 50 as Cullingworth reached their target in 19 overs.

Bridgeholme went one better - they won by the maxuimum 10 wickets after bowling out visitors Stainland for 131 with four wickets from Saj Mahmood.

Mohammed Basharat (75) and Ben Fielden (56 no) ensured not many home players had to don their pads.

Greetland beat Old Crossleyans by 32 runs with king-sized contributions from two players.

Captain James Broadbent hit 63 on his first game back at the club in Greetland’s 171 for seven and Nassar Hussain took six for 22 to ensure the Broomfield men were restricted to 139, Mohammed Ramzan making 52.