Batley bowlers team-up to record winning start

The hosts’ top and middle orders collapsed under the pressure exerted by Tariq Hussain (4-32) and Muhammed Tahir (4-40) and Altofts were in big trouble on 84-4.

A mini-revival in the tail propelled the hosts to a close on 136 but Batley eased to 138-5 in reply, Kashif Talib (37) and Ayaz Seedat (33) top scoring.

The opening weekend wasn’t successful for Birstall, who went down by six wickets at home to Carlton.

Nick Kaye (38 not out) offered the only substantial resistance in Birstall’s innings that folded on 120 and despite the efforts of Craig Wood (2-35), Carlton cruised to 123-4 after 36 overs.

Those writing-off champions Wrenthorpe may want to reconsider after they dispatched Mirfield Parish Cavaliers by 101 runs.

Greg Batty (68 not out) led Wrens to 199-6 with Danny Hope (2-28) and Brad Drake (2-42) posing the biggest threat with the ball.

Cavaliers struggled to recover from a bad start and David Whitelock’s game 30 counted for little as they were dismissed for 98.

In Division 1, the Hopton Mills bowlers took no prisoners in a 64-run win at home to Buttershaw St Paul’s.

Andy Grey (35) top scored in the hosts’ vulnerable 119-7 but Mills turned the screw with the ball as Richard Myers (4-22) and Mike Carroll (3-17) combined to send Saints packing on 55 all out.

Graeme Winn’s superb 89 not out inspired Liversedge to a 101-run win over Methley.

Sumner added 71 in the hosts’ 278-6 and Methley were restricted to 177-5 in reply.

Scholes were even more convincing in their 152-run rout at Ossett.

Dom Cumming’s 82 led Scholes to 230-9 before Richard West unleashed 7-10 in 9.3 devastating as Ossett limped to 78 all out.

In Division 2, Batley A lost by 31 runs at Altofts A but Birstall A fared better with an 85-run success at home to Carlton A.

A knock of 53 not out from Kevin Wilbraham and a return of 5-29 from Daniel Padgett Snr steered Mirfield Parish Cavaliers A to a six-wicket win at Wrenthorpe A.

Thornhill marked their return to Central Yorkshire action with a 55-run triumph at East Ardsley A.

The hosts were unable to match Thornhill’s innings of 117 thanks to fine bowling from Amir Adam (4-12) and Richard Smith (3-19).

Scholes A eased to a six-wicket victory in a low-scoring Division 3 clash at Adwalton.

T Mehmood took 6-15 as Hopton Mills A recorded a 10-wicket rout at Adwalton A but Mirfield A lost by six wickets at Gildersome A.

Liversedge A suffered an eight-wicket loss at Rodley A but Thornhill A’s campaign started on a brighter note as they celebrated a five-wicket home win over East Leeds A.

Badru Patel (3-24) and Dan Widdowson (3-19) limited Leeds to 102-8 before Liversedge hit 103-5.