Hughes is last action hero for new leaders

Alex Page hit 60 off 32 balls and put on 89 for the ninth wicket with Dean Woolsey (33no) as Townville recovered from 87-8 to post 190-9.

In reply, Wrenthorpe were all out for 186 when Jonathan Smith was caught and bowled by Jack Hughes off the final delivery after sharing a last-wicket stand of 19 with Richard Wild.

Hughes finished with figures of 3-55 and South African Kyllin Vardhan bagged 6-80.

Jordan Sleightholme (72), Wild (3-20) and Joe Ellis (3-59) were Wrenthorpe’s best performers.

Birstall climbed to second place when Eric Austin (45) and James Byrne (40) led them to their sixth straight league victory at Ossett whose three-wicket defeat was tough on Joe Finnigan (79).

Methley maintained their challenge when Ryan Meyer (57), Oral Blackford (4-31) and Nick Connolly (3-32) gave them the edge against Mirfield Parish Cavaliers.

Simon Stirling (46no) guided Carlton to a five-wicket win at Hunslet Nelson who were sent collapsing from 59-4 to 69 all out by Jonathan Rudge (5-26) and Chris Kippax (3-27).

South African all-rounder Johannes Bothma hit 51 and snapped up 3-19 as Wakefield Thornes beat strugglers Altofts by 48 runs.

Batley eased their relegation worries with a seven-wicket success at winless bottom side Northowram Fields who collapsed from 108-2 to 185 all out after Robert Larner (54) and Jason Smith (35) had given them a good start. Muhammad Tahir (84no) and Chinnada Rudramurthy (48) shared a 117-run stand as Batley knocked off the runs.

Division One pacesetters Scholes beat East Ardsley by three wickets. Scholes are one point clear of Wakefield St Michael’s whose eight-wicket victory against Methley was set by Alex Leyshon (4-14), Richard Atkinson (2-13) and Tom Robinson (2-13).

Former leaders Oulton lost at Buttershaw St Paul’s after Pritesh Mistry (4-57) and Paul Robinson (3-23) routed them for 122.