Cricket: It’s close with all titles up for grabs

Jun 25 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

AS THE half-way point of the season approaches, it couldn’t be tighter at the top of the tables, with joint leaders in the Premiership and Cedar Court Conference and just a point separating the top two in the Frank Platt division.

Kirkburton and Scholes are battling it out neck and neck in the top flight, and both won again this week, with Burton joining the Chapelgaters at the top after taking all six against Shepley.

A four-wicket return from Rob Kettlewell had Shepley struggling to 99 all out, before Mike Smith (49) and George Smith (26) led Burton to a five-wicket win.

Scholes, meanwhile, had to settle for just five points after failing to prise out Barkisland’s last wicket pair.

Craig Marsh top scored with 56, while Richard Wimpenny made 43 as Scholes totalled 238-8, Josh Travis taking three wickets, and the home side were handily placed at 160-5 in reply, but after the fall of Matthew Raven (60) and Ben Westbrook (44), the challenge fizzled out as Joe Hinchliffe claimed four for 38.

Skelmanthorpe are still in the mix (six points behind the leaders) and had two tremendous individual performances this week from Josh Clarkson who scored an excllent unbeaten century to steer his side to 257-9 against Micklehurst.

And the visitors were then quickly put on the rack by Skelmanthorpe skipper Steve Glover, who produced the best bowling figures of the season (eight for 26) to shoot Micklehurst down for 80, Jake McCabe hitting 29 of those.

Dominic Finn carved out an unbeaten 83 as Elland scored 193-3 to defeat Meltham by seven wickets.

Golcar hit 343-5 against Honley.