Delighted Meltham are now celebrating promotion to the Drakes Premiership.

The Mean Lane side leapfrogged Thongsbridge into second place behind champions Slaithwaite after beating Cawthorne in tremendous style.

Vinod Minhas was the hero of the day taking eight for 57 as visitors Cawthorne were bowled out for 136 in reply to a Meltham total of 168 in which Minhas hit 40.

It was a fantastic end of the season for Meltham – who will replace Hall Bower in the top flight next summer – as promotion rivals Thongsbridge and Broad Oak missed out.

Thongsbridge lost by 18 runs at Linthwaite to slip from second place.

They had been four points ahead of the others but failed to add to their tally after Linthwaite totalled 205-9.

Ex-Paddock man Sajid Bashir did the damage for the home side, hitting 84, while Kashif Ijaz had 44 not out (Tom Raven-Hill claimed four for 55).

Ben Raven-Hill did his best to get the job done for Thongsbridge with 88 in reply, but no-one could stay with him as Asam Raza took four for 55 and Ahmed four for 47.

Broad Oak went for broke against Slaithwaite knowing only a win would give them a chance of going up and they beat the champions by 100 runs, but it was not enough because of Meltham’s success.

Lee Baxter hit 56 and Jack Pulley 31 for the Oak, while left-arm spinner Tom Graham grabbed six for 62 for the Hill Top side, who received the Frank Platt Championship trophy before the start of play from Drakes League chairman Trevor Atkinson.

Slaithwaite were never at the races in reply as Alex Slack claimed four for 20, Daniel Rushworth three for two and Rhys Phillips three for 23.

In the other Championship match, relegated Lepton were bowled out for 41 by Clayton West, who won by 10 wickets.

Hall Bower’s reign in the Premiership came to an end even though relegation rivals Holmfirth lost at home to Barkisland.

Their hopes were wrecked by a brilliant unbeaten 151 by Scholes’ New Zealand-based Englishman Joe Carter, who hammered 17 fours and seven sixes in his third successive century to finish off an impressive season.

Carter took advantage after the Bower had won the toss and sent Scholes in, and he helped his side to 271-6 with Aussie Pete Sceresini hitting 40 and skipper Tom Brook 26.

The Holmfirth team, who had already been beaten, were watching at Chapelgate as the Bower tried valiantly to reach their target, but they were eventually all out for 172 with Tom Boorman – better known for his batting – taking five for 61.

Ben Dunne was the best of the Bower batsmen with 66 while skipper Wayne Swift had 41.

Holmfirth lost by two wickets at home to Barkisland after putting up 144 in which Chris Cowell hit 67 and Chris Greenwood picked up four for 49 and Darren Robinson three for 46.

James Summerscales anchored the Barkisland reply with 62 and it was enough to get them over the line and leave Holmfirth sweating.

Champions Shepley finished off with a win at Kirkburton, Honley finished off disappointingly by being drubbed at Delph while Elland toppled Golcar.

Relegated Marsden finished with a win against Skelmanthorpe.