Bradford Cricket League: Kasir Maroof’s effort in vain as Batley lose first game in Premier

Wrenthorpe, who only avoided relegation on the final day of the 2019 season, recorded a six-wicket success after bowling Batley out for 145.

Opener Kasir Maroof carried his bat for 63, but was the only Batley batsman to make an impression before Sam Wigglesworth (44no) and Mohammad Suleman (35) helped Wrenthorpe to reach their target.

Elsewhere, the new season got off to a scorching start with fine weather and high scores.

Six teams posted totals over 300 and two of them came in the Division Three game as Altofts chased down a Heckmondwike & Carlinghow total of 315-6 to win by six wickets in a match that produced 633 runs.

In a remarkable game, an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 196 between Ben Walsh (112no) and Danny Eden (87no) saw Altofts get home with 10 balls to spare.

Heckmondwike & Carlinghow must have been stunned after posting such a big score. Kanhu Pattniyik (85), Paul Cooper (57) and Matthew Crowther (44) were their top scorers.

The day’s highest total was the 352-8 posted by Hanging Heaton in the Premier Division as they hammered Methley by 185 runs.

Gary Fellows led the way, hitting 19 fours in a knock of 103 and combining with Nick Connolly (70) in an opening stand of 175.

Their firm foundation was built on by skipper Ben Kohler-Cadmore (57) and David Stiff (59) as 116 runs were added for the fifth wicket in just 10 overs.

Methley were all out for 167 in reply with left-arm spinner Callum Bethel (6-55) doing most of the damage.

Cleckheaton ran into a fine innings from New Farnley skipper Lee Goddard, who smashed 123 to power his side to an eight-wicket win.

Cleckheaton had looked well placed at the half way stage after posting a 242 total with best contributions from former Scotland international and Yorkshire player Iain Wardlaw (76no) and new boy Harvey Booth (50).

Benedict Gundry smashed 100 from just 65 balls to power Birstall to a 144-run win over Lightcliffe in Division One.

Gundry hit eight sixes and six fours as he built on the good work of opener Eric Austin (81) to help Birstall to 301-6. Lightcliffe were then bowled out for 157 as Josh Haynes took 4-45.

Gomersal’s Jonathan Boynton also opened with a century, making an unbeaten 101 to help his side to 279-5 as they beat Carlton by 67 runs.

Spinner Chris Rhodes followed up with 5-64 as Carlton were all out for 212.

Opener Sam Gatenby made 77 and Ben Walter an unbeaten 64 as East Bierley chased down a Baildon score of 242-8 to win by six wickets.

Jack Hebden (3-64) was the best of the East Bierley bowlers.

Hartshead Moor won a low scoring match with Pudsey Congs, getting home with two wickets to spare after bowling their opponents out for just 84.

Abhishek Paradkar (3-5) and new captain Dave McCullum (3-18) were the pick of the Moor bowlers while Joe Wood was their top scorer with 28.

There was a nail-biting finish in Division Two at Spen Lane where Wakefield St Michael’s scrambled to a one-wicket win over Spen Victoria.

The home side’s total of 121, which was dominated by an unbeaten 69 from skipper Bilal Ejaz, did not seem too challenging, but St Michael’s made hard work of overhauling it.

Abid Awain (5-67) posed the main threat to St Michael’s who had Qasar Hammed (46) to thank for edging them home.

The day’s lowest scoring game was at Gypsy Lane where hosts Hunslet Nelson were dismissed for 65 as they suffered a seven-wicket loss against Hopton Mills. Umar Abbas (4-17) and Michael Carroll (4-29) did the damage.

Crossbank Methodists held their nerve to beat new boys Crossflatts by 24 runs in Division Three.

Although they only managed to post a 131 total, Crossbank were able to bowl their opponents out for 107 as Imran Patel (5-51) and Mohammad Hassan (3-15) led the attack.

Rizwan Abid (35) top scored in Crossbank’s innings.

Liversedge went down by seven wickets to Adwalton after making 154 when batting first.

Skipper Will Atkin made a battling 52 for Liversedge, but lacked support as Chris Priestley picked up 4-29 and Umar Bashir (3-31).