HOWARD PALMER produced the knock of the season for Meltham as the veteran opener slammed a double century off the Scholes attack in the Premiership Two clash at Mean Lane.
Palmer, who many feel could still do a good job for Meltham’s struggling first team, blasted an incredible SIXTEEN sixes and 17 fours in his massive knock of 212, and with Andrew McLeod he put on 278 for the third wicket as Meltham amassed a mammoth 368-6 total.
Not surprisingly, all of the eight-man Scholes attack came in for some tap, Mark Wimpenny coming out with the best figures of two for 31 from four overs, and one of those was the wicket of Palmer.
Another man in the groove was Elland’s Rob Laycock, who followed on from last week’s 149 by rattling a second successive ton with an unbeaten 122 at Slaithwaite.
Struggling at 30-3, Laycock, who is still struggling with an injury which prevents him bowling in the first team, set about Slaithwaite in tandem with Jez Firth (85no) and between them they put on 209 unbroken for the fourth wicket.
Slaithwaite, who are still second in the table, never got into their stride and failed to even gather a point at 145-9.
There’s simply no stopping Kirkburton at the moment, and this week the Premiership leaders made short work of Skelmanthorpe.
Phil Redgwick (71) and Stuart Hartill (48) were the main contributors to Skelmanthorpe’s 150-8 total, which Burton overhauled thanks to Steve Jepson (53no) and James Newsome (47no).
There was a century for Josh Ardron as Shepley beat Primrose Hill and another for David Woodhead, as he and Urfan Ali (89no) put on 242 unparted in a 10-wicket win over Shelley.
Delph’s Phil Lees was another century-maker in a high-scoring game with Linthwaite.
James Barber also scored 144 for the home side who couldn’t match Delph’s 310-7, Marcus Richmond taking six for 36 in Linthwaite’s 263 all out.
Paddock beat Kexborough with a half-century from Kevin Tinsley and five wickets from I Ullah.
