MATTHEW WOOD cracked a Drakes League season-best 187 to keep Kirkburton bowling along in the Premiership.

The former Yorkshire and Glamorgan batsman notched his third ton of the summer to put Golcar in the shade at Riley Lane.

While unbeaten Honley’s relentless march at the top of the table continued with a nine-wicket win at Hoylandswaine, Wood went back to the head of the individual batting standings as Kirkburton posted 341-5 to ensure five points against their Colne Valley rivals.

Wood batted for three hours 11 minutes before being fourth man out, cracking 24 fours and five sixes in his match-winning knock and sharing in a second-wicket stand of 108 with Charlie Roebuck (56) and a fourth wicket stand of 111 with Richard Kettlewell (30no).

Studious at the start with his 50 coming off 70 balls in 93 minutes, Wood accelerated to go to his ton of 115 balls in two hours 25 minutes, with 15 boundaries.

He then started to go over the ropes, notching his third 50 in just 29 balls and including four of his five maximums.

Roebuck’s 50 came off 37 balls in just 44 minutes and included six fours and three sixes.

Tom Burkinshaw and Roebuck then quickly got to work with the ball, reducing Golcar to 89-8 in which skipper Steve Whitwam had 56.

There was some late spirited resistance from Ashley Pamment, who fired 11 fours and four sixes in a 114-ball 81, but Golcar were never in the hunt and closed on 194-9, Burkinshaw taking four for 48 from 15 overs and Roebuck three for 75.

Hoylandswaine were bowled out for 179 by Honley and, with Simon Kelly (73) and Richard Jakeman (68no) in prime form, they reached their victory target in double-quick time.

Shepley stay second in the table thanks to a comfortable win against Broad Oak, who managed 214-9 in reply to a cracking 312-6 in which Tom Denton, SP Singh and Tim Rees all hit half centuries.

Wasim Jaffer hit another half century for Skelmanthorpe, but they were held to 198-9 by Delph & Dobcross.

Sarfraz Ahmed was the best of the home side’s batsmen with 66, but the line-up had little answer to Bilal Khiljee and Matt Norvall, who each had four wickets.

After being reduced to eight for two in reply, opener Irfan Zahoor steadied the Delph ship with a fine century (101) and they were guided home by Khiljee (45no) and Faisal Butt (37no).

A stand of 200 for the fifth wicket between Ibrar Latif and Tom Brook was the highlight of Scholes’ home win over second-bottom Barkisland.

Latif’s 138 came off just 123 balls and included 19 fours and five sixes, while Brook underlined his growing potential with a terrific unbeaten 93 not out off 79 balls including 11 fours and two sixes.

Barkisland, despite 65 in even time from Ben Wells (eight fours, three sixes), struggled against the early accuracy of Andy Alsop and Mohammed Shahnawaz and then fell to the spin of Iqbal Khan (four for 43), earning a point at 222-9.

An undefeated 63 from Bjorn Taylor carried Slaithwaite to a seven-wicket win in the Colne Valley derby against Marsden at Hemplow.

Only three men made double figures as Ronan Bruce (four for 51) and Ibrar Younas (five for 53) dismissed the home side for 159.

Slaithwaite got home in only the 29th over.

Holmfirth’s total of 183-9 never threatened to be enough to halt Elland, who clinched a seven-wicket win on the back of Lee Baxter’s 74 and Greg Buckley’s 59. Holmfirth remain bottom of the table.

In the Frank Platt Championship, leaders Shelley were indebted to a fine 135 from opener Joe Sykes in reaching 276-5 against Clayton West, who took a point at 220 in reply, Mark Firth scoring 61.Scott Dyson claimed five for 94.

It was a nail-biter at Micklehurst, who leapfrogged Meltham at the foot of the table as they managed to beat second placed Kexborough by just two runs.

Paul Barrow (70) top scored as the home side totalled 264-9. Kexborough stayed in touch all the way through, but Nicky Lawrence claimed the final wicket in the nick of time.

Almondbury also got a boost with a seven-wicket win over Meltham, with openers Dave Swan (53) and Atif Kamran (60) setting the platform after Wasim Khaliq (four for 55) and Mirza Muhammad Mobeen (three for 26) had pegged Meltham to 150-9.

Dale Winterbottom hit 58 and took six for 61 as Lepton beat Hall Bower despite a fantastic haul of seven for 58 from Andrew Peaker.

Day’s best bowling was the seven for 55 of Lascelles Hall’s Danny Mulhall, but they lost to Thongsbridge.

Steve Abbott was in great form for Paddock as they beat Rastrick by eight wickets. He took six for 52 as Rastrick fell for 160 and then hit 86 not out, including six sixes and 12 fours.