All-round effort of Whitwam is in vain

Whitwam spun his way to a season’s personal best of 7-56 as Hoylandswaine were dismissed for 236 in the 47 overs-a-side encounter. He then fell just one run short of his half-century in the reply. Opener John Sadler was Hoylandswaine’s top batsman with 84 and when Golcar batted, Bandula Don bowled throughout to take 5-84.

Haroon Rashid and Louis Aspeling had an unbroken second wicket partnership of 168 for Skelmanthorpe, who defeated bottom of the table Slaithwaite by nine wickets in their 46-over game. Rashid made 110 and Aspeling 74 after Slaithwaite had totalled 189-5. Ian Holt made a half-century for Slaithwaite and Bjorn Taylor was left unbeaten on 34.

Lowly Shelley put up a creditable struggle against leaders Delph & Dobcross before losing by three wickets. Sam Scott hit eight fours and three sixes in his innings of 82 for Shelley, who totalled 199-4 in 40 overs. Shelton Weekes then took 4-44, but Delph reached their target.

Second-placed Kirkburton saw their game at Shepley rained off and third-placed Honley lost a 32-over encounter at Elland by nine wickets. It was a disappointing debut for Honley’s new overseas spinner Yasir Shah as he failed to take a wicket and conceded 52 runs in 10.2 overs.

Elland batsman Greg Wood made good use of the reverse sweep against Shah and made an unbeaten 66, including three sixes. Opener Greg Finn also hit an undefeated half-century. Honley batted first but struggled to 138 all out in 31.2 overs against the spin bowling of Chris Goulden (6-24) and James Thornton (3-26). Thornton – out of retirement for a second time – justified the faith placed in him despite a half-century from Simon Kelly. Wood and Finn ensured Elland reached their objective in 28.2 overs.

Shepley ‘s home game against Barkisland was washed out, along with Broad Oak’s home fixture with Scholes.