Matt Crookes produced an outstanding bowling display to help edge Kirkburton ever closer to the Drakes Premiership Two title after they made easy work of bottom side Meltham.

The difference between the two sides was evident as Meltham were bowled out for just 70, with spinner Crookes claiming five wickets for just nine runs.

Despite losing four wickets in reply, all coming from the impressive William Parker, Kirkburton still reached their target in comfortable fashion and stay four points clear at the top of the table. 

Hoylandswaine overcame a potentially tricky test against third-place Slaithwaite to stay in the hunt for top spot.

The home side scored an impressive 229 with Jack Lockwood top scoring with 82.

However, it was a disappointing run chase from Slaithwaite, who could have leapfrogged their opponents, as they were all out for just 121.

Darren Lockwood took three wickets, conceding just nine runs.

Spectators at Elland witnessed a superb unbroken opening partnership from Cawthorne’s Corey Roebuck and Jamie Penty, as they put on 165 runs, making easy meat of the 164 runs set by the home side.

DRAKES PREMIERSHIP TWO

Scholes 115a.o. (G Pearson 51; J Vickerman 4-12), *Armitage Bridge 116-3 (R Sugden 47*, C Hinchliffe 40)

*Elland 164a.o. (B Speak 57, G Balmforth 25), Cawthorne 165-0 (C Roebuck 87*, J Penty 58*)

Barkisland 166-9 (R Whiteoak 28, S Senior 27, I Pollitt 35; J Woodhead 4-28), *Golcar 130a.o. (R Read 42, U Ali 27, A Iqbal 34; L Bridges 5-10)

Broad Oak 186-8 (S Rushworth 34, S Burluraux 51, G Brooke 28*; B Thornton 3-28, I.Whiteley 3-30), *Holmfirth 171a.o. (M Battye-Wood 32, C Allen 42, I Whiteley 35; J Wadsworth 3-28)

*Honley 142-9 (J Green 51, L Kenworthy 27; A Dollive 3-32, D Storey 4-31), Skelmanthorpe 143-1 (R Jagger 66*, M Wimpenny 25, M Rammell 42*)

*Meltham 70a.o. (J Moulson 43; M Crookes 5-9, Kirkburton 73-4 (R Kettlewell 37*; W Parker 4-22)

Hoylandswaine 229-8 (J Lockwood 82, S Marsh 29, W Hoyland 25*; D Longworth 3-60), *Slaithwaite 121a.o. (S Peacock 41, R Haslam 25; D Lockwood 3-9, J Bird 3-40)

FRANK PLATT CHAMPIONSHIP TWO

Emley Clarence 173-7 (H Knapper 34, S Lewis 46*), *Delph & Dobcross 125a.o. (B Cunningham 32; A Moors 4-30, A Taylor 3-27)

Hall Bower 109a.o. (D Moss 37; C Zaffino 5-9), *Marsden 110-3 (R Clarke 39*, N Shaw 25)

Clayton West 267-8 (M Firth 84, T Gibson 55, D Barber 43, C Hallas 35; A Murfin 3-47), *Shelley 135a.o. (M Bhoola 51; T Siani 4-23)

CEDAR COURT CONFERENCE TWO

*Cumberworth United 156-8 (R Greaves 32*, R Smith 31; J Greig 3-40), Denby Dale 104a.o. (C Whitaker 3-35, R Greaves 4-18)

*Denby 194-6 (B Atkinson 44, T Moakler 25, P Schofield 36, J Slater 36*), Paddock 196-3 (D Mellor 84, S Nawaz 74)

Thongsbridge 67a.o. (D Pauley 4-11), *Moorlands 70-2 (J Bentley 30*)

Lascelles Hall 209-6 (R Shaw 86*, M Essex 50; T Gledhill 4-45), *Kirkheaton 149a.o. (J Hollingworth 85; T Walker 4-24)

*Linthwaite 89a.o. (N Shaw 4-18, R Wadsworth 3-11), Almondbury Wes 92-3 (T Jackson 71*)

Congratulations to Waqaas Javed, inadvertently incorrectly named in Wednesday’s Examiner report, on his match-winning 57 not out for Birkby Rose Hill in their Tinker Cup final success over Woolley in the arrowselfdrive Central League.