Not even Close as Gary flattens Mills

Tail-ender Malcolm Ellis’s 11 was the leading light as Close skittled out Mills for only 62 and although Naeem Ahmed (3-32) bowled well, Carlton’s response eventually reached 64-5.

Scholes A had a good chance to pick-up important points before rain forced the abandonment of their trip to Moorlands A.

Mark Battye’s 40 was the highlight for the hosts as Ross Irving (3-24) and Steven West (3-43) restricted Moorlands to 120-9.

Andrew Spencer (45 not out) dragged Scholes to 100-4 when rain stopped play.

It was a similar story for Birstall A in their Division 2 home game against Altofts A.

Joe Ellam’s fine 52 helped bottom side Altofts to 165 all out. Adil Taj (3-49) and Robert Peregrine (4-35) kept the wickets falling.

Peregrine (40) then took up the challenge with the bat and with Dominic Cleghorn (37 not out) put Birstall on 150-6 when rain rescued the visitors.

Batley A’s home game with Buttershaw St Paul’s A did survive the weather and it was Saints who prevailed by 58 runs.

Altaf Hussain (4-47) and Faizal Mamaniat (3-40) teamed-up well to send Buttershaw packing on 152 all out but only three home batsmen reached double figures in the losing reply of 94 all out.

Wakefield Thornes remain bottom of the Premier Division after a 30-run loss at Methley.

Joshua Shaw (4-17) produced a superb four-over spell to contribute to Methley’s downfall on 135 but despite the efforts of Robert Stephenson (27 not out), Thornes could muster only 105 in reply.

Division 4 leaders Oulton celebrated a three-wicket triumph over Mirfield A, who drop to the foot of the table as a result.

Gary Dawber was the starring Oulton bowler, taking 6-17 in eight overs to demolish the Mirfield order for 83.

Only Farhan Amjad (30) made any kind of impression with the bat within the visitors’ innings.

Oulton seemed destined for an easy win but they suffered a major scare as Andrew Lenk (3-23) and Ben Thornton (2-6) claimed early wickets to leave the leaders floundering on 23-6.

However, Paul Gough (29 not out) and Alan Winn (12 not out) held their nerve in the tail to haul Oulton to a less-than convincing score of 84-7 after 30 overs.