Webster's sixes prove crucial in Whitley win

Premier Division leaders Whitley Hall moved into the home straight in the chase for their first top-flight title with victory at Wickersley.

The former champions set a 218-5 target with Neil Longden cracking 87 not out and Gareth Davis 66.

Knocks of 69 from Neil Longhurst and 51 by Steve Bethel put Whitley within range, but they needed two sixes from Ben Webster in the penultimate over to reach 220-7 and clinch the points.

Whitley's Whitworth Cup final opponents and second-placed Treeton took a maximum return at Hallam, Danny Kemp making a half-century, Andy Tomlinson 43 and Steve Foster 40 of their 243-7. Hallam were sent packing for 172, Foster claiming 5-23 and Chris Holt 3-36.

Wath captain Lesroy Weekes, the former Elsecar star, ripped out Aston Hall for a mere 54 with a hostile 7-27 stint, Paul Wilkinson chipping in with 3-18 before Wath cruised to an eight-wicket triumph.

Phoenix picked up winning points at Tickhill, Denaish Raheja the top scorer with 44 of their 172 as Kashif Raja and Ashley Fiddler shared the wickets. Tickhill failed at the crease, being shot out for 77 by Arif Hussain and Mumtaz Ali.

Multiple champions Elsecar were too strong for hosts Whiston, who were dismissed for 178 despite 48 from Kevin Cooper. The home wickets were shared by Andy Winstanley (5-42) and Chathura Athukorala (4-51). Elsecar eased to victory at 181-3 thanks to opener Ainsley Swallow's 54 and a knock of 91, including 13 boundaries, by Luke Townsend.

Among eye-catching peroformers in the lower divisions were Darfield's Sam Blake, with 7-22 in the Division One win at Norton Oakes; Rotherham Town teenager Gareth Pursehouse, with 76 in the victory over Norton Woodseats; Collegiate's Andy Simpson, with an unbeaten 91 in the Division Three win at Doncaster Town, and Warmsworth's Andy Matthews, with 82 and 5-37 in the Division Four victory over Rotherham Town C.

Aston Hall were skittled for just 42 at Wath in Division Two, not one of their batsmen making it into double figures against the attack of Dan Hyner (5-11) and Andy Cutts (4-17).