Whitley march on as Treeton stutter

Alex Welsh blasted 113 and Jaco Castle an unbeaten 80, before sending back the hosts for just 104, Welsh bagging three cheap wickets.

That put them further ahead of second-placed Treeton, surprisingly beaten at home to Elsecar, the former champions whipping them out for a modest 118 with three wickets each for Iftikar Afzal, Rob Jones and Chathura Athukorala, then struggling to 119-7 against the bowling of Umaid Asif and Greg Norton, each with 3-32.

Solid batting from Rob Ward (49no), Asadullah Butt (45) and Jon Garnham (41) took Aston Hall to 218-6, guests Whiston so close at 214-9, Sohail Awan hitting 63 and Scott Jones (45).

Bradfield continued their improvement with a 277-7 tally at Barnsley, South Africans Hennie Swart and Matt McGillvray cracking 82 and 67 respectively, Barnsley coming off second-best with their reply of 203-9, McGillvray claiming 5-48.

Wath had six wickets in hand after passing the Houghton Main total of 134 in which Ian Simon struck 62 and Paul Wilkinson grabbed 6-48.

Wickersley, guests at the Rockingham ground, came in at 197-7, Johnny Younis belting 95 and Haidar Jahangir a half-century, before the Rocks were shattered for 117, South African Christi Biljoen picking up 5-19.

High scorers of the day were Division Four side Conisbrough, who reached 337-9 against Tickhill, with 91 from opener Craig Jackson, while low scorers were Division Three side Norton Oakes, skittled for by hosts Dearne.

Among the day’s century-makers was Hallam junior Harry Bliss, who hammered an unbeaten 129 but was on the losing side against Whitley Hall in Division Two.