Cricket: Jones scorches to season’s top score in run-fest at Lascelles Hall

HAYDN JONES scorched his way to the top score of the season in the entire league as Armitage Bridge blitzed the Lascelles Hall bowlers, while Bilal Khiljee grabbed an eight-wicket haul as Delph & Dobcross turned the tables on Shepley.

Having lost the toss and being put in to bat on a ‘road’ at the Hall, Aussie opener Jones made merry in the sunshine as he plundered 25 fours and six sixes on the way to a terrific 189 (beating Simon Kelly’s 180) and putting on the best part of a double-century stand with skipper Paul Hamer (70) before holing out on the boundary edge going for a seventh maximum.

And with further contributions from Andy Gledhill and Danny Moorhouse, the Bridge closed on a massive 348-5.

To their credit the Hall made a battling response, and after losing two quick wickets, Ben Robshaw (89) and skipper Tony Mulhall (78) lifted the home side to 268-8 as the Bridge moved to within a couple of points of sealing promotion from the Cedar Court Conference.

At the head of the League, Delph increased their lead to six points when drubbing Shepley (who had beaten the leaders seven days earlier) thanks to Khiljee’s eight for 40 return.

Remarkably Ben Wells scored 43 as Shepley, who probably had their minds on the Heavy Woollen Cup final, were skittled for 86, with no-one else in the line-up in double figures.

Irfan Zahoor made an unbeaten 47 in Delph’s seven-wicket stroll, the game ending before 5pm!

Kirkburton also reversed the previous week’s disappointment when they nicked an absolute thriller at Hoylandswaine with just four balls and one-wicket to spare.

Chris Schofield (84no) and Ben Potter (60) led Swaine to 269-7 and Burton looked in danger of a similar collapse to last week when they lost their top four for just 48.

But Ryan Robinson (107) found a couple of willing partners as he fired his first century of the summer before Shaun Woodhams got the visitors over the line in the last over.

Honley also stayed in touch at the top despite seeing Chris Kilner bag a seven-wicket haul to restrict the League champions with 190 all out.

But Ritchie Howarth (four for 51) and Yasir Shah (five for 43) ensured Honley gleaned a five-point return as Marsden could only muster 149-9 in reply.

A century from Lee Baxter, supported by Steve Whitwam (50) and Dan Woodhead (47no) led fourth-placed Golcar to 274-8 before Shelley were bowled out for 207, of which Sam Scott made 85 with Will Hinchliffe taking five for 66.

Slaithwaite moved out of the relegation zone with back-to-back wins over Barkisland despite Darren Robinson’s best efforts, five for 104 and 43 with the bat, while there were wins for Elland over Scholes and Skelmanthorpe, who beat Broad Oak with Adam Dollive on song, taking a five-for with the ball and then top-scoring with 53.

Clayton West opened up a 10-point lead at the top of the Championship, thanks to their three-wicket win at Paddock and Almondbury’s 95-run win over Hall Bower.