KASHIF NAJAM and Zahid Shah did the damage against Cartworth Moor as Azaad took a six-point lead at the top of the arrowselfdrive.com Huddersfield Central League.
While rivals Almondbury Wesleyans were losing at Penistone, Najam hit an unbeaten 21 and took five for 19, while Shah had 31 not out and three for nine to put the skids under their Holme Valley opposition – and give Azaad a maximum haul.
Najam’s knock helped propel Azaad to 184-7 in their 45 overs, after Hanif Mahboob (45) and Shah had bolstered the middle order.
Scott Bissett and Josh England had two wickets apiece for the Moor, but their batting effort collapsed after Tom Chadwick (23) and Aussie Mitch Steele (20) had gone.
Najam’s 10-over spell proved the difference, with Shah also weighing in superbly and Mohammed Chisti taking two for 19.
The Wes failed to get to grips with a Penistone attack in which David Hawley took three for 25 in 11 and were restricted to 138-9 in their 45 overs.
Joseph Baldwin and John Dalton had two wickets apiece for Penistone, whose reply got off to a shaky start before Duncan Richards (34) and Scott Briggs (49) guided them towards victory. Darrell Sykes with three for 35 was the best of the Wes bowlers.
At the bottom of the table, Jordan Thackray took four for 16 in 12 accurate overs to help Thurstonland topple fellow strugglers Woodfield Park by 63 runs.
Opening partner Lee Booth also contributed three for 36 from 12 as Woodfield were dismissed for 108 in reply to Thurstonland’s 171-8 total.
Nathan Appleyard and Jack Oldham had 48 apiece and Neil Booth 23 for the Holme Valley club.
