Scholes earn crucial victory over East Bierley in battle against relegation

Aditya Waghmode on his way to 20 for Scholes as they defeated relegation rivals East Bierley.

Victory saw Scholes open a 27-point gap on East Bierley, while they drew level on 81 points with third-bottom side Bradford & Bingley.

Bierley managed to collect maximum batting points as they made 247-9.

Rizwan Ali led the way as he hit 76 off 62 balls, including seven fours and four sixes and shared a 124-run sixth-wicket partnership with Shabir Rashid, who made 60.

Yasir Ali (3-63), Andy Robinson (3-76) and James Stansfield (3-65) shared the wickets for Scholes.

Opener Shoukat Ali made a brisk 52 in his side’s reply as he struck eight fours and two sixes from just 32 balls.

Yasir Ali made an unbeaten 74 and Stansfield (30) also chipped in with useful runs as Scholes completed victory at the start of the 41st over with four wickets to spare.

Joshua Thurwell produced another impressive bowling display but was unable to help prevent Cleckheaton slipping to a 136-run defeat against Farsley.

Dan Hodgson made 100, including 11 fours and a six, and was supported by Pat Kruger (68) and opener James Wainman (47) as Farsley posted 268-8, with Thurwell claiming 6-55.

Cleck were dismissed for 132 in reply as opener Toby Thorpe (39) and John Wood (31) were the only batsmen to make contributions as Kruger capped an impressive display with 4-18.

Woodlands earned a 22-run win away to Townville and lie fifth, 24 points off the leaders.

Woodlands were led to a decent total of 272-5 thanks to partnerships of 69 between Tim Jackson (72) and Greg Finn, 100 between Jackson and Ishfaq Ahmed (63) and an unbroken 73 by Cieran Garner (34no) and Muhammad Bilal (45no).

Ritchie Bresnan was pick of the Townville bowling with 4-58.

Townville opener Kris Ward and number nine batsman Alex Page made 44 apiece in reply but they were bowled out for 250 as spinners Kez Ahmed (5-56) and Chris Brice (3-78) got to work.