Fletcher goes so close as Whitley cut the gap

Whitley Hall narrowed the gap between themselves and Premier Division leaders Treeton to just three points with their emphatic win over Tickhill, while Treeton were only able to salvage a point from their home game against Wath.

Whitley reached a formidable 287-6 with Alex Fletcher falling just one run short of his maiden century for the season.

Andy Bethel added 74 and Jaco Castle made 43 off just 23 deliveries and Tickhill were then toppled for 132, Castle and Alex Welsh each claiming three cheap wickets.

Treeton were set a 232-6 target by guests Wath, former Elsecar star Lesroy Weekes cracking an unbeaten 86.

Steve Foster claimed 4-43 for the champions, who hung on at 182-9 to avoid outright defeat, Chris Holt unbeaten on 48, Foster adding 44, the home wickets being shared by Paul Wilkinson and Rob Barlow.

Solid batting by Pete Hatfield (63), Danny Rafiq (58), and teenager Ben O'Brien (53) carried Barnsley to 266-8 in Sheffield against Hallam, who held on at 186-9, Jack Unwin holding the fort with an unbeaten 50 against the attack of Jamie Green (6-33).

Elsecar put aside their recent disappointments to hammer the highest score of the season – 366-6 – the romp led by Tim Farmer |(80no) and Jason Meadows (64) against guests Houghton Main, who closed on 203-8, opener Steve Secker striking 65.

Haidar Jahangir staged a tremendous all-round performance as Wickersley beat Aston Hall by seven wickets, claiming 5-33 in Aston's 193, before striking 16 boundaries in his knock of 92, Scott Cunningham chipping in with 47.

Rotherham Phoenix set a 233-9 target for hosts Whiston, Amir Riaz hitting 63 and Ibrar Qaduos 61. Whiston fell for 168, Andrew Green making 44 and Amar Rashid returning 4-50.

Wath's former junior Joe Thompson, playing his first game for the club in nine years, after a spell in the North-East, slammed 111 in the Division Two game against Wickersley B , and in the Division Four game between Maltby B and Dearne B, one of the few female players in the League, teenager Naomi Twiss, claimed 6-23 to set Maltby up for a four-wicket victory.