Scholes opened up a six-point lead in the Drakes League Premiership thanks in part to one of their old boys – Ibrar Latif.

While Tom Brook’s leaders were taking all six points at Shelley, where Pete Drysdale finished 60 not out against his old Westerley Lane mates, Latif hit 98 to help Kirkburton put up a winning 216-5 total against champions Shepley, who were previously just a point off the pace.

Skipper Andy Smith, who had previously hit 44 in the Burton innings, then got to work with the ball to take three for 39 and, with Mumbai signing Usman Malvi taking five for 50, Shepley fell behind the rate and had to close on 179-9 for a point.

Kenya opening bat Duncan Allan with 49 and Oli Davidson, who had earlier taken three for 54 with his spin, were the best of the Shepley batsmen.

It was a low-scoring affair at Shelley where, having been put in to bat on a damp but very flat-looking track, the home side were all out for 121 wit Hasnat Yousaf and Louis Sykes grinding out 38 and 33 respectively.

Opener Louis Brook took three for 25 and Tom Chadwick four for 16 before Scholes found it equally difficult to get the ball away in their reply.

Kiwi Drysdale, who spent two seasons with Shelley in 2011 and 2012, made sure Scholes were solid, however, and with James Noble and Chadwick making telling contributions, steered his side to a six-wicket victory at 124-4.

Honley and Delph closed on Shepley in second with six-point wins at Meltham and Holmfirth respectively.

Ritchie Howarth put Honley in control against Meltham with a five for 14 haul which reduced the Mean Lane side to 89 all out despite Chris Earnshaw’s 27.

Skipper Simon Kelly with 58 not out and Richard Jakeman with 26 ensured no problems for Honley in chalking a nine-wicket win.

At Holmfirth, the bottom-of-the-table home side posted 167 thanks to a half century from Shabir Rashid and 38 from Sam Denton, but Jamshad Ahmad and Lancashire’s Arron Lilley took five wickets apiece to set up a six-point assault.

Ahmad then cracked a fine 86 not out to get Delph over the line at 168-4, helped by former Holmfirth player Andrew Gleave with 34 not out.

Hoylandswaine remained ahead of Kirkburton, nine points back of the leaders, with a five-point win at Elland, where Richard Wilkinson’s spin and four for 61 haul restricted Elland to 167-9 in reply to 211-8.

Ben Potter with 38 not out was top Swains batsman, while Wilkinson had 33, skipper Michael Cranmer 30 and Alex Morris the same.

Aussie Nathan Freitag was the toast of Slaithwaite with the best bowling performance in the top flight, sending back Barkisland for 99 with seven for 35.

Dave Berry chipped in with the other three wickets to help Slaithwaite defend a total of 152 at Woodfield and move out of the bottom two, Abdul Wahid the best of the visiting batsmen with 61. For Barkisland, skipper Darren Robinson picked up three for seven and Alex Scholefield three for 53.

Western Australia’s Tom Beaton hit 62 to help Skelmanthorpe to victory over visitors Golcar, who were dismissed for just 118 thanks to Paul Cummins’ five for 12 off-spin tally.

Skelmanthorpe got home with five wickets in hand, despite Jack Hargreaves taking four for 11, Cummins hitting 36.

Marsden crushed Lascelles Hall to retain control of the Jedi Sports Championship, thanks to an all-round team effort, although Simon Robinson picked up six for 40 to send back the Hall for 95 in reply to 224-4 (Kiwi Graeme Tryon 51).

Jack and Ryan Wadsworth did the damaged as second-placed Broad Oak also won at Thongsbridge, while there was one ton in the Drakes at the weekend and it came from Linthwaite’s Asif Qayyum with 112 in their 209 at Almondbury Wes, who fell eight runs short in reply. Darrell Sykes had seven for 54 for the Wes.

In the Cedar Court Conference, leaders Thurstonland and Almond bury both lost to Cartworth Moor – Aussie Brad Dawe 58 not out – and Denby Dale respectively, with Kirkheaton powering to the top after their easy win at home to bottom side Paddock.