Bethel and Longhurst blast way to crown

Nothing but a massive slip-up in their last four matches of the season can prevent Whitley Hall putting their first notch on the Premier Division championship trophy.

Their latest game produced a run-feast against Phoenix, the Rotherham club's attack being punished for 352-3, the highest team score recorded this season.

Steve Bethel blasted an unbeaten 153 containing 16 fours and five sixes and Neil Longhurst's 127 featured 14 fours and seven sixes.

Phoenix were then sent packing for 151, Longhurst rounding off his day with a 4-37 stint, Ben Webster chipping in with 3-24.

Barnsley did well to make 253-6 off the Treeton attack, Simon Potter cracking an unbeaten 92 and Steve Walters (57).

Captain Chris Cobb claimed 4-35 for the Washfield Lane club and then struck a fine 111 as Treeton reached a winning 255-3 with half-centuries from Steve Fosster and Danny Kemp – but they remain seven points behind Whitley.

Wath's James Barnard, who severed a finger in a bizarre accident at the Moor Road club earlier this season, played his first game since then and steered his club to victory over Wickersley, who had set a 204-7 target, in which Gareth Davis hit 57 and Rob Barlow claimed 5-53.

Wath looked set for defeat at 90-5 until Barnard was joined by Martyn Bray, the pair taking Wath to 206 without further loss, Barnard( 69no) and Bray unbeaten on 53.

Elsecar polished off Tickhill for 120 despite Ashley Fiddler's 49 as Chathura Athukorala struck with 4-18.

Junior Ethan Gray hit 44 not out and Brett Hunsley made an unbeaten 41 after opener Ainsley Swallow had been dismissed for 25.

The top bowler in Division One was Norton Oakes' Amir Ashfaque, with 7-24 in the win over Treeton B.

Batsmen to catch the eye in Division Two were Wickersley B's Neil Longden, with 133 in the runaway win over Aston Hall, and Warmsworth's Andy Haywood, with a boundary-littered 106 against Sheffield United.

The top batsman in Division Three was Bradfield's Paul Garnett, whose unbeaten 113 steered his side to an eight-wicket victory at Worsbrough.