Batty and Gill strike as Farnley collapse

The teams meet again on Sunday when New Farnley host Wrenthorpe in the Yorkshire Council Championship quarter-finals.

Methley, CYL’s other representatives in the Council play-offs, kept alive their title hopes by climbing to second place with a seven-wicket win against Hunslet Nelson, who were routed for 121 by Simon Purdy (3-22), Hemantha Alles (3-48) and Chris Leaf (2-37).

Openers Hamid Khan (68no) and Nick Connolly (34) put on 76 as Methley knocked off the runs in 19.4 overs.

Bottom team Ossett’s relegation was confirmed when they lost by seven wickets to fellow strugglers Wakefield St Michael’s, who are favourites to join them in Division One next season.

St Michael’s are eight points adrift of third bottom Birstall, who boosted their survival chances by beating Mirfield Parish Cavaliers.

Craig Wood (6-44) and Kevin Watson (3-54) toppled Mirfield for 174, replying to Birstall’s 206-6 that included 76 by captain Stewart Clifton.

Mirfield’s defeat was hard on Sri Lankan all-rounder Milan Gunarathne (82 and 5-43).

A last-wicket stand of 21 between Liam Smith and Dean Woolsey was in vain for Townville in a 13-run defeat against Altofts, for whom Alan Burton struck 116 off 129 balls and shared a 115-run partnership with Jordan Sleightholme (54no).

Jack Hughes (88) led Townville’s scoring.

Nathan Glynn hit a half-century and Matthew Varley snapped up 3-15 in Wakefield Thornes’s seven-run victory against Northowram Fields.

Carlton have a four-point lead in Division One after scraping a one-wicket win against promotion rivals Moorlands.