Wickersley make full use of bad weather

With the Elsecar v Whitley Hall, Treeton v Hallam, and Norton Oakes matches not played, Wickersley kept up their chase of an eighth top-flight title, their first since 2005, with victory at Whiston. However, the Northfield Laners made hard work of taking the points after holding the hosts to 128-8 with three wickets each for Lesroy Weekes and Muhammad Naveed. Struggling to 129-8, Andy Ivill claimed 4-41 for Whiston.

Aston Hall were runaway winners at home to Wath, reaching 249-8, with Rob Ward cracking 96, Joe Barker (51) and Uzman Azeem (46). Rob Barlow claimed 4-62 for the visitors, who fell for 126 against the skills of Scott Hibbett (3-16) and Josh Coulson (3-28).

The only other game completed in the top section saw Coal Aston entertain Upper Haugh, whose last wicket fell on 157, Oavis Youseff only batsman to stay for long, with 66, Liam Johnson bagging 4-35 and James Furniss (4-53). Aston knocked off the runs for one wicket, Laurence Browes (69) and Andy Lockwood (42).

All-rounder of the day was Conisbrough’s Stuart Bellwood, who claimed 5-50 as guests Norton Woodseats reached 224-7 in Division One, then slammed an unbeaten 92, with 15 boundaries, as Conisbrough finished second-best, on 202-9.

Shiregreen got themselves in the mood for the following day’s Billy Oates Cup final with a home victory over Rotherham Town, the bowlers dominating, with Mo Raza grabbing 5-44 in Shiregreen’s 141, and Shumraiz Azam taking 5-40 in Town’s 132. Half-centuries from Paul Silvester and Amitpaul Kundra steered Doncaster Town to 168-3, guests Frecheville holding on at 89-8.

Best batsman in Division Two was Sheffield Collegiate’s James Meakin (89no) in win over Wickersley B, while Millhouses’s Eddie Raper’s 7-14 effort had Phoenix back in the shed for 72.