Batley edge Nelson in tense Premier contest

Although Nelson were bowled out for 136, they threatened an unlikely win when Warren Ekstraal claimed 6-42 to have Batley in trouble.

Batley edged to 136-7 when two more wickets fell to leave the scores level but no10 batsman Naik Zada held his nerve to hit the winning boundary.

Ekstraal had earlier top scored for Nelson with 35, while Tariq Hussain (4-33) and Muhammed Shah Nawaz (3-30) put Batley on course for a victory, which moves them 13 points clear of the relegation zone.

Eric Austin was unable to end his illustrious CYL career on a high as Birstall slipped to a nine-wicket defeat at Wakefield Thornes.

Austin required 98 runs to pass 12,000 in his final game before returning to New Zealand but the entire Birstall team could only manage 92 all out.

Frustratingly, Austin was left unbeaten on 22, while Saif Ur Rehman (28) top scored as Mahmood Rasool claimed 6-10 from eight overs.

David Toft then blazed 60 not out as Thornes cruised to their target in 13.1 overs.

Mirfield Parish Cavaliers moved nine points clear of the relegation zone following a 21-run victory over bottom side Altofts.

David Blakeley struck 12 boundaries in a top score of 88, Nazar Hussain made 55, while Tim Orrell and Banaras Hussain chipped in with 26 apiece as Parish posted 228-3.

Nazar Hussain claimed 4-46 and Tom Fretwell 4-50 as Altofts were restricted to 207-9 in reply.

Townville lost ground on Premier leaders Methley following a six-wicket defeat to Ossett.

Gurman Randhawa (3-54) and John Sadler (3-59) helped dismiss Townville for 193, with Chris Holliday (54) top scoring.

Randhawa made 51 to cap a fine display before Sadler (65no) and Javed Umarji (51no) shared an unbroken century stand to guide Ossett to their target with four overs and six wickets in hand.

Defeat for Townville allowed Methley to open up a 10-point lead at the top of the table, thanks to a three-wicket win over Carlton.

Jonathan Hughes (42) and Pat Hinchliffe (41) led the Carlton innings as they were bowled out for 193, with Marcus Walmsley claiming 4-33.

Methley stumbled to their target but captain Walmsley capped a fine performance by top scoring with 64 to see his side to a 10th win in 11 matches as they lead the way at halfway.

Buttershaw St Paul’s occupy second-bottom spot after a 30-run defeat to Wrenthorpe.

Neil Bourke scored 106 in Wrenthorpe’s 260-9 and Buttershaw were dismissed for 230 despite Paul Carroll top scoring with 72.