Hartshead hold nerve in tense finale to maintain unbeaten start to campaign

Former Yorkshire seamer Iain Wardlaw impressed with 4-42 as Hartshead dismissed previously-unbeaten Northowram Fields for 132.

Opener James Hardcastle made 30 in reply but Ashton Richmond (4-37) fought back and threatened to win the game for Northowram.

When the ninth Hartshead wicket fell, they were still 10 runs short but Danny Squire and Rauf Qayyum scrambled them to victory.

Hartshead are level on 55 points with second placed Keighley and are four behind Buttershaw St Paul’s, who maintained their excellent start following last season’s promotion by beating Hopton Mills by nine wickets.

Although Chris Scott made 32, Hopton were dismissed for 104 as Kevin McDermott impressed with 5-32.

Opener Jonathan Burston hit 42 as St Paul’s eased to their victory target.

Liversedge earned their first win, beating Brighouse by 133 runs.

Alan Sumner hit a six and 13 fours in an impressive knock of 102 and was supported by fellow opener Mark Hydes (42).

Asif Ali struck 71 and Paul Marlow hit 44 as Liversedge closed on an impressive 293-6 with Brighouse captain Sunny Matharu claiming 4-90.

Sohail Hussain (40) and Samar Farooq (39) led the Brighouse reply but they were dismissed for 160 as Ali followed up his efforts with the bat by claiming 3-25.

Spen Victoria also picked up their first win, defeating struggling Idle by five wickets.

Robert Warriner (5-55) and spinner Danny Cross (4-13) combined to help dismiss Idle for 92 before opener Evan Edwards (41) ensured Spen secured victory, despite Deron Greaves taking all five wickets to fall.

Keighley were involved in a cracking game against Altofts as they bowled the visitors out for 207.

They lost nine wickets in reply before scrambling to a victory that maintains their winning start to the season.