Yorkshire Leagues: Will Root's century to no avail for Sheffield Collegiate as calculation favours Thornes

On the kind of June day that makes you wonder how Yorkshire ever became cricket's heartland, several players saw fine performances frustrated in terms of the result.
DAVE TOFT: Hit 47 in 42 balls to help Thornes to a Duckworth Lewis win over Sheffield Collegiate.DAVE TOFT: Hit 47 in 42 balls to help Thornes to a Duckworth Lewis win over Sheffield Collegiate.
DAVE TOFT: Hit 47 in 42 balls to help Thornes to a Duckworth Lewis win over Sheffield Collegiate.

Will Root produced a stunning innings of 127, including eight fours and five sixes, as Sheffield Collegiate reached 188-8 in their top of the Yorkshire South Premier clash with Wakefield Thornes.

Thornes replied with 100-4 with Dave Toft hitting 47 in 42 balls and when the calculators came out to solve the Duckworth Lewis riddle, that proved enough to give Thornes a two-run win.

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Shajahan Younis (67) and Tom Knight (60) led the way with Mark Cummins (48) and Liam Johnson (40no) not far behind in Wickersley’s 271-5 against rock bottom Rotherham Town only for the match to be abandoned with the visitors on 34-2.

Early season leaders Appleby Frodingham also looked well on their way when a century fourth-wicket stand between Ian Snowden (39) and Matt Fowler (48) saw them to 222, but their match at Sheffield & Phoenix was also cut short.

A century stand between Nicholas Smit (72no) and Maurice Chambers (50) helped Aston Hall from 26-4 to 174-5 before their match at Treeton became victim of the weather.

When Cleethorpes were restricted to 156 after losing four wickets for four runs, Doncaster Town seemed to have the chance of a rare victory, but Alex Willerton (3-20), Paul Sunley (3-19) and Harry Clewett (3-8) skittled them out for 78.

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There was no joy either for struggling Barnsley, who had no answer to Whitley Hall’s Callum Bethel (6-24) and crashed out for 114, in which No11 Oliver Jackson (25) top scored after taking 3-12.

Nothing, not even wintry weather, seems to be able to stop Bradford Premier leaders Pudsey St Lawrence who brushed aside Cleckheaton by 159 runs. Mark Robertshaw (74) and Adam Waite (55) laid the foundation with a 119 opening stand and Barrie Frankland (44) and James Smith (65no) weighed in before Richie Lamb got to work with a 5-51 spell to bowl out the home side for 124.

Nathan Bromby (3-23) and David Nebard (4-49) restricted second-placed Hanging Heaton to 158-9, but Morley were skittled out for 51 as Muhammad Rameez produced a stunning seven-over spell of 6-9.

There was a nail-biting finish in the dark at Woodlands whose last three pairs, led by Scott Richardson (52no), put on 142 to set a target of 199-8. New Farnley responded through James Middlebrook (48) and a 79-run stand between Richard Atkins (60no) and Rishi Limbechaya (31) only to fall agonisingly one run short when their overs ran out.

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Bjorn Taylor (69no) top scored in East Bierley’s 186-9 before Awais Ejaz and Tuseif Arshad picked up four wickets each to dismiss Pudsey Congs for 115.

Norman Ali (4-27) and Yassir Abbas (3-36) restricted Scholes to 106 and even though Christian Jackson took 4-34, David Clow (31) led Bradford & Bingley to a four-wicket win.

Farsley’s No 7 Mark Harrison (40no) top scored in their 162-8 before their match with Lightcliffe was rained off.

Harrogate and Yorkshire Academy are locked at the top of Yorkshire Premier North after overcoming close rivals

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Harrogate had a much more comfortable afternoon after Harry Stow (5-23) masterminded dismissing Stamford Bridge for 131. Matt Good (60) and Jonathan Tattersall (51) led the successful chase.

Academy lost four wickets in 11 balls against Hull, but still posted 194 and thanks to James Logan (4-51) and Jordan Thompson (3-39) they restricted Hull to 178-7 despite the efforts of Chris Grey (73).

Duncan Snell (79no) and Alex Collins (43no) steered York past Driffield Town’s 173 in which Ali Asad made 57 and Dan Woods took 4-51.

A half century from Darren Harland was the highlight of Scarborough’s 194 with Ed Morrison picking up 5-44. David Wainwright (54) and Connor Hyde (43) raised Castleford hopes with a 79-run stand but they came up 40 runs short.

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Rob Pinder (77) top scored in Sheriff Hutton Bridge’s 191-7, which was too good for Dunnington despite another fine knock from Jack Bolam (50).

Alexis Twigg hit a century as Aire Wharfe leaders Beckwithshaw stamped their authority with an 87-run win over near rivals Horsforth.

Otley remain hot on their heels after Chris Thompson (4-29) and Ricky Halloran (3-38) bowled out Kirkstall for 113 on the way to an eight-wicket win.

Jake Zjilinszky (100 and 3-15) looked to have Pool on the way to victory against Bilton only for the rain to intervene.

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In the Drakes Premiership, Michael Kitson (6-50) and Shahzada Kahn (3-49) bowled out Golcar for 92, but Skelmanthorpe’s joy was short lived because Steve Whitwam (6-12) and Will Hinchliffe (3-46) then dismissed them for 89.