Moorlands seal league win but suffer Sykes Cup exit

Moorlands registered back-to-back Premiership wins to move into sixth place in the table as they defeated Armitage Bridge in a rain affected contest.

Moorlands opener Jared Maxwell led the way with a fine knock of 93 from 119 balls in an innings which included 13 fours and a six.

David Winn (32no) and Michael Rounding (37no) continued Maxwell’s good work as they shared a 72-run partnership which helped boost the total to 242-5.

Eight overs were lost as a heavy rain showed interrupted play before Armitage Bridge produced a spirited response to a revised target of 204.

Wicketkeeper Jaycub Curtling made 55 but Bridge were reduced to 99-8 as Nicky Smith claimed 3-32.

The hosts recovered a batting point after Curtling found some lower-order company in Jack Hinchliffe (20).

Moorlands used eight different bowlers as they tried to claim the final two wickets but Armitage Bridge survived and ended on 175-9.

Moorlands were blitzed by Delph’s fierce pace bowling attack as they slipped to a nine-wicket defeat in Sunday’s Sykes Cup quarter-final.

Delph’s three quick bowlers shared the wickets between them as Waqas Maqsood (3-27), Umer Yaqoob (3-24) and Wasim Qasim (4-29) dismissed the Mirfield side for 85.

Moorlands claimed the early wicket of opener Mosun Hussain (10) but Nathan Jones (44no) and Chris Tipper (28no) shrugged off that loss to book Delph’s place in the semi-finals.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers suffered defeat to leaders Hoylandswaine, which leaves them two points above the relegation zone.

The match survived the swathe of heavy showers that swept across the region after they bowled out their hosts for 132.

Gurman Randhawa (4-19) wrapped things up after good work by opening bowlers Shakir Muhammad (2-26) and Adnan Ghani (3-17).

Muhammad Ali (41) and Terence James (40) made useful contributions for Parish but were unable to convert promising opportunities.

With overs lost during the tea interval, the teams were able to retake the field and Hoylandswaine chased down a revised total.

Opener Gharib Nawaz (29) and Chris Holliday (29no) made efficient work of the reply as Hoylandswaine moved five points clear at the top of the table.

Mirfield slipped to a heavy defeat against Birkby Rose Hill in the Conference.

Birkby were led to 238-9 by a splendid knock of 116 by Reehan Khan, with support from Altaf Hussain (47) as Naseer Saudagar returned figures of 4-49 from 15 overs.

Adam Goldthorpe (27) top scored in reply but Mirfield were bowled out for 141.