GREG BUCKLEY, who was man-of-the-match when Elland won the Romida Twenty/20 Trophy at Golcar last year, steered his new club Kirkburton into this year’s semi-finals.

The former Micklehurst and Elland all-rounder put on 90 for the first wicket with Charlie Roebuck (41), replying to Skelmanthorpe’s 176-7 tally, which was solely down to Kris Whittaker’s splendid 111 off 62 balls (14 fours, five sixes) after in-form Paul Davis went for a duck to Ashley Smith.

Buckley went on to make a match-winning 95, clubbing eight sixes and seven fours of just 45 deliveries before becoming the third Burton wicket to fall. But by then his side were almost within touching distance of victory at 160-2.

A shutter of four wickets for just one run, thanks to Tim Sykes bagging a triple-wicket, hat-trick taking maiden, briefly lifted Skelmanthorpe hopes, but Andy Smith (10no) and Ashley Smith (4no) saw Kirkburton safely into the semis.

All four quarter-finals were high-scoring affairs, the highest of which was at Delph & Dobcross, where the home side amassed 233-4, with Faisal Butt crashing a massing 13 sixes and 14 fours in a 70-ball 156!

Greg Finn replied with four sixes and four fours in a 50-ball unbeaten 75, while Greg Wood made 42 but it proved too big a run chase as Trophy holders Elland closed on 184-6.

There was a real thriller at Barkisland where the home side needed six off the final delivery, bowled by Chris Woodhead to beat Honley, who had racked lup 194-6, Simon Kelly (70) and Richard Jakeman (35) racing away to 80 in the first six overs, before Max Joice added 39.

Four of the Barkisland batsman got into the 30s as they kept up with the asking rate for most of the innings, before just letting it slip in the last couple of overs, Kelly taking four for 37 and Woodhead three for 33 as they ran out of deliveries on 189-9.

In the final game, Broad Oak made a competitive 185-6, led by Chris Gill’s 74, but after Craig Horner responded with 32 at the top of Golcar’s order, Steve Whitwam (61no) and Lee Baxter 32no) led the Swallow Lane to victory with an over in hand.

Barkisland 189-9 (A Kaye 39, S Wheelwright 34, B Westbrook 31, A Gleave 30; S Kelly 4-37, C Woodhead 3-33) Honley 194-6 (S Kelly 70, M Joice 39, R Jakeman 35).

Kirkburton 180-7 (G Buckley 95, C Roebuck 41; P Roebuck 3-9, T Sykes 3-12) Skelmanthorpe 176-7 (K Whittaker 111).

Delph & Dobcross 233-4 (F Butt 156, L Hargreaves 29; C Fletcher 3-37) Elland 184-6 (G Finn 75no, G Wood 42; I Zahoor 3-18).

Golcar 186-6 (S Whitwam 61no, L Baxter 32no, C Horner 30, C Ruscoe 27; G Hurlbatt 3-31) Broad Oak 185-6 (C Gill 74, A France 27no, J Wadsworth 25).