It’s seven-up for Batley’s captain

Leaders Liversedge went six points clear of Carlton, who had no game, after a seven-wicket triumph at Methley A.

Only Kevin Moore (25) and Daniel Bridges (24) were among the runs as the hosts who were 75-4 slumped to 81 all out in 32 overs.

Simon Kay claimed 4-33 and David Winter 1-38 before Tom Smith turned in a superb spell of 5-8 in 7.1 overs with four maidens to wrap up the innings.

Max Power (20no) anchored the reply and with fellow opener David Bolt making 31, Liversedge reached 82-3 in 24 overs.

Batley captain Tariq Hussain had a day to remember as his side thumped hosts Ossett A by 10 wickets.

Hussain took 7-19 in seven overs with two maidens while Huzaifah Patel took 3-14 as Ossett A were skittled out for 34 in just 54 minutes.

Mohammed Tahir then made 24 not out as Batley cruised to 36-0 in six overs as Batley, who stand fifth, closed the gap on second-placed Carlton to five points

Moorlands are in third place, a point behind Carlton and seven adrift of Liversedge, after their 67-run home win over second-bottom East Ardsley.

Christian Musgrave (2-34) struck early to leave the home side 40-2 before Michael Rounding aided the recovery with 37.

Muhammed Hafeez top- scored with 42 while Richard Firth made 36 not out from 26 balls, with five fours and a six, as Moorlands rallied to 216-7.

David Battye claimed fine figures of 4-61 while Mark Heald took 1-55.

Christopher Lloyd (5-39) ripped out Ardsley top order to leave them reeling at 39-5 before Rob Hoban (24) and Heald (28) steadied matters.

Both fell to Hafeez (2-30) and despite 21 late on from Ian Glover Ardsley were always struggling as Nadim Hussain took 3-40.

Ardsley were dismissed for 149 in 42 overs and are level on points with third-bottom Ossett A but nine clear of bottom-club East Leeds.

In the Premier Division Birstall remain third-bottom, just four points clear of the relegation zone after a 73-run loss at Townville.

With Zafar Khan transferring to Northowram on Friday, it left Birstall short on bowling and Townville took full advantage by racking up 304-3.

Townville openers Tim Walton and John Trower produced a 236-run stand.

Walton was out for 96, while Trower went on to make 127 not out.

Jack Hughes struck a quickfire 30 late on to further boost Townville’s total, while Saif ur Rehman (2-51) and Craig Wood (1-110) were the only Birstall wicket takers.

Wood hit 12 fours and two sixes in a top score of 77 in reply but although support came from Paul Marlow (30) and James Keen (24), Birstall were restricted to 231-9, with Townville’s Canadian overseas man Khurram Chohan claiming 4-49.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers slipped to seventh after a 15-run defeat at home to New Farnley.

Matthew Good (31), Tom Suggitt (29) and Aaron Schier (28) chipped in with useful runs as New Farnley were restricted to 214-9 from their 50 overs.

Graeme Winn was the leading bowler as he took 5-36 from 10 overs.

Jonathan Boynton led the Parish reply with a quickfire 55, from just 46 balls, in an innings that included eight fours and three sixes but although Michael Padgett made 28 late on, Parish fell short as they were bowled out for 199.

David McCallum (3-14), Danny Busfield (3-50) and Schier (2-40) combined to earn Farnley the six points, which leaves them third, nine points behind leaders Methley.

Robert Barker produced a superb bowling display to help set up Hunslet Nelson’s convincing eight-wicket victory at bottom side Ossett.

Barker returned excellent figures of 7-14 from 11.4 overs as Ossett were dismissed for just 90.