Lilley spins in before blasting West attack

Arron Lilley was the match-winner, spinning his way to three wickets and then making 86 in a two-wicket triumph.

After a delayed start, the match was reduced to 48 overs-a-side and West were restricted to 182-7 by Lilley and right-arm medium pacer Matthew Norvall, who also took three wickets. Mark Firth and Auckland’s Michael Stevenson put up stubborn resistance with 43 and 41 not out, respectively, but Lilley would not be denied.

The No 4 batsman faced 49 balls and struck five fours and nine sixes, opener Irfan Zahoor also playing his part with 38. Delph passed West’s total in the 26th over despite a 4-41 return from Murray Spence, who has joined from Boland, South Africa.

Marsden had reached 30-2 after 12 overs before their home match against Hall Bower was abandoned, while Shepley’s home game against Kirkburton lasted just one over before rain won the day, Shepley, who have welcomed back Indian Test batsman Wasim Jaffer, having scored four runs without loss.

All games in the Frank Platt Championship were called off without a ball bowled, but Linthwaite made it two wins out of two in the Cedar Court Conference with a seven-wicket success at Paddock, to follow their opening day victory against Lascelles Hall.

Paddock were sent back for 116 in 41.4 overs as Asam Raza and Asnad Yousaf claimed three wickets each with their medium pace attack.

Then Yousaf, batting at No 3, followed his opening day century in the win over Lascelles Hall by making a valuable 41 off 51 balls, including four fours and two sixes.

No 4 Amrik Malik was left undefeated on 60 off 57 balls, his innings containing six fours and three sixes, as Linthwaite reached their target in 22.1 overs.

Weather permitting, the Romida Sykes Cup gets underway with 16 ties on Saturday, Shepley starting the defence of the trophy at Barkisland.

Scarborough steal it to ruin Sajjad’s day

ONLY one match survived the inclement weather, Scarborough squeezing to a three-wicket win at Driffield Town with just four balls to spare.

Aamer Sajjad celebrated his Driffield debut with a century, only to finish on the losing side.

The Pakistan A batsman struck ten fours and four sixes in an innings of 113. Nick Hardgrave, batting at seven, made 82, which included eight fours and a six as Driffield reached 273-8.

Andy Simpson, who has replaced Piet Rinke as Scarborough’s captain after Rinke’s return to Zimbabwe, took three wickets, as did Ashley Lyth.

In Scarborough’s successful reply, Darren Harland top-scored with 79, receiving useful support from Mark Tennant and Adam Lyth, who contributed scores in the forties.

There was no start in any of the other six matches and with the whole opening day programme also falling victim to the weather, it has been a miserable start to the campaign.

York will be hoping to start the defence of their title on Saturday when they are due to host Driffield, while runners-up Rotherham Town also have home advantage against Barnsley.

Rain resulted in only one Premier Division game being played in the South Yorkshire League.

Whiston dismissed Barnsley for 133 through newcomer Jafar Nazir (4-30) and Scott Jones (3-26). Whiston were in trouble at 69-6 but were rescued by Alex Galloway (31) and Pete Wilson (21), who added 45 for the seventh wicket, and they won at 139-8.

The only game in Division One saw hosts Tickhill held at 155-9, with James Doyle making a late 35. Lee Jeffries claimed 4-29 and Dave Mace bagged three wickets for Rotherham Town B, who collapsed to 86 all out, of which Mace hit 38, as Alistair Skinner and James Crookes claimed three victims each.

Division Three side Conisbrough B made 263-8 in 41 overs before Maltby fell for 117. Nathan Lovell and Liam Stainthorpe both made 78 for Conisbrough.

Atkinson returns in triumph for Otley

Having beaten the weather the previous week, the Airedale and Wharfedale League came off second best this time around but still produced three results and some outstanding individual performances.

Otley were the only top-flight club able to stage a match and they were rewarded with a seven-wicket win over Collingham, who had crushed Kirkstall Educational on the opening day of the season.

The visitors looked set for another good display all the time Ollie Hardaker was at the wicket but he did not find enough support for his half-century scored off 104 balls and Collingham were all out for 135.

Australian Andrew Ross picked up 3-30 and Josh Atkinson, who has returned to Otley from Pudsey Congs, took 3-11 in 2.4 overs. He then hit an unbeaten 55 and, with Sam Smith (46), steered his side to the top of the table.

Rawdon are determined to bounce straight back after relegation to Division Two and they set down a marker, making short work of Calverley.

With the home side at 104-4, things could have gone either way but then Andrew Doidge and Ryan Gladwin came together and put on 121, allowing Doidge to declare at 225-4 and give his bowlers three extra overs.

He smashed seven sixes and four fours in his 91not out while Gladwin, who has moved to Rawdon from Morley, picked up two sixes in his unbeaten 42.

Left-hander Doidge then turned right-arm spinner and claimed 6-27 and with Josh Hobson (3-24) dismissed Calverley for 119.

James Seymour (85), captain Richard Wear (52) and Ben Birkill (48) led the way as Harden raced to 277 at Upper Wharfedale.

With Seymour and Birkill each picking up three wickets, Wharfedale found the going hard, except for a fine unbeaten knock of 92 from No 4 batsman James Freebury. But he could not find enough partners to stay with him and the home side were bowled out for 169.