Parish bowlers send Batley crashing to loss

The opening pair of Nazar Hussain and Daniel Hope were assisted by a damp pitch as they combined to dismiss Batley for a paltry 48 last Saturday.

Hussain claimed 5-22 and Hope 5-21 as Batley were bowled out inside 18 overs and although Parish lost six wickets in reply they edged to victory which moves them out of the relegation zone.

Four top-flight sides failed to make three figures batting first on an afternoon which saw several early finishes.

Hunslet Nelson slipped to third-bottom after they were dismissed for 82, with Ravinda Palliyaguruge claiming 4-13 and lost by four wickets against Wakefield Thornes.

Anureg Verma (6-53) and Conor Harvey (3-30) helped Townville dismiss Wrenthorpe for 83 before completing a nine-wicket win with Jonny Booth unbeaten on 47.

Victory keeps Townville hot on the heels of leaders Methley as the season reaches halfway this weekend.

Thomas Chippendale claimed 5-36 and Charles Orme 5-25 as Ossett dismissed Altofts for 62.

Chippendale then smashed 46 from 21 balls, including three fours and four sixes, as Ossett raced to their victory target in just 8.4 overs.

Methley remain four points clear of Townville at the top of the Premier Division following a 138-run victory over Birstall.

Richard Foster hit 76 at the top of the Methley innings, including 11 fours and a six, as he shared a 133-run second wicket stand with Luke Patel.

Fahid Rehman (86no) continued to plunder the Birstall bowling attack, hitting 10 fours and four sixes as he added a further 158 runs in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 158.

Patel ended unbeaten on 107, having hit 13 fours and three sixes, as Methley closed on 298-2.

Birstall were in deep trouble at 70-8 in reply as Marcus Walmsley (3-26) and Patel (3-29) impressed before Eric Austin and Paul Blakeley added respectability to the Birstall score.

Austin made 59 on his final home appearance for Birstall, while Blakeley ended 63 not out as they were eventually bowled out for 160.

Defeat leaves Birstall sixth in the table, while Austin has scored 11,902 Central Yorkshire League runs during his 18 seasons and he returns to his native New Zealand after this Saturday’s game away to Wakefield Thornes.

On a day of low scores, Carlton bucked the trend racking up 368-6 on their way to a 134-run victory over Buttershaw St Pauls.

Stephen Cooper led the way with 108 for Carlton, who are up to seventh place, a point behind Birstall after 10 matches.