A WHIRLWIND ton from Arron Lilley fired Delph & Dobcross to an unlikely victory and fired them to the top of the Drakes Premiership on the first major rain-hit day of the season.

With all matches reduced in overs because of the lunchtime downpour, Golcar looked to have put themselves in a great position at Delph, where Lee Baxter (44) and Steve Whitwam finally clicked as an opening pair and put on 127 for the first wicket in a game down to 35 overs-a-side.

Whitwam went on to make 84 (15 fours and one six), while Eddie Wilson made an unbeaten 34 as the visitors scored at 6½-an-over to reach 224-5, Bilal Khiljee taking three for 64.

When Delph replied they lost the big three of Irfan Zahoor, Bruce Cruse and Khiljee with only 28 on the board, and even after rallying to 148-5 looked likely to come off second best, but then Lilley cut loose with devastating effect, slamming an amazing 10 sixes and 10 fours in a 70-ball blitzkrieg to finish unbeaten on 126, sealing victory in the 29th over.

Two of the Premiership’s other big guns, Shepley and Honley met at Marsh Lane in another 35-over game, and here too there was a century stand between SP Singh (63) and Tim Rees (67) after Tom Denton had gone for just a single.

However, like a good bottle of red wine, Ritchie Howarth continues to improve with age and took seven for 76 from 17 overs to restrict Shepley to 182-8. Simon Kelly then broke double figures for the first time this season, carrying his bat for a crucial 91 not out, and supported by Martin Green (40no) steered Honley to a six-wicket win with nearly two overs remaining, Craig Glover bagging four for 73.

Another man to get a magnificent seven haul was Elland’s young skipper Craig Fletcher, who almost, but not quite eclipsed dad Stuart’s best (an eight-for) when he skittled Slaithwaite for 91, taking seven for 37 from 16 overs.

Paul Winrow then made an unbeaten 53 as Elland won by eight wickets to share joint second spot in the table with Honley.

Alex Walker smashed 58 off 28 deliveries and Adam France 50 off 43 balls as Broad Oak totalled 212-9 at Marsden, who managed to salvage a point with the last pair Isfan Ahmed (29no) and Ian Bray (25no) at the wicket.

Jarrod Lee (five for 44) and Tom Boorman (81no) kick-started Scholes’ season as they beat Shelley by 10 wickets, while Andy Smith (61no) led Kirkburton to victory over Barkisland, after Tom Burkinshaw and Matthew Garrety split six wickets between them to peg the home side down to 124-7 in a 30-overs contest.

Paul Davis scored a useful 83 not out for Skelmathorpe, but were well beaten by Hoylandswaine for whom skipper Alex Morris made 80, backed up by Michael Cranmer (45) and Chris Schofield (42).

Another captain to inspire his side to victory was Lepton Highlanders’ Steve Brown who took three for 35 in 12 overs in the Frank Platt Championship game against Clayton West who were really struggling at 75-6.

But Kevin Rank (33) joined Tom Barber and put on another 76 runs for the seventh wicket, Barber eventually falling for a very good 91 as Clayton made 174-9 from 40 overs.

Brown however, opened the batting in Lepton’s reply, and scored an excellent 105 as part of a century stand with Alex Slack (45) to seal the points for Lepton.

Almondbury are now second in the table, and had Mirza Mobeen to thank for their latest victory, but for once with the bat rather than the ball.

Johannes van-Ee made 58 for the Fernsiders, but they were struggling to post a useful total until Mobeen entered the fray at No9 and proceeded to smash the ball to all parts, putting on 81 for the last wicket with John White who contributed just three.

Mobeen finished unbeaten on 98 having thrashed eight sixes and five fours as Almondbury totalled 236-9 in 45 overs.

Sajid Nazir replied with 17 fours and a six in his 104, although he was put down four times, but with no real support Paddock were bowled out for 192, White taking four for 31.

Simon Sykes carried his bat for an unbeaten 71 for Emley Clarence before Jon Lee struck with five for 48 to bring maximum points against Holmfirth.

In the Cedar Court Conference, Armitage Bridge are the early front-runners after rattling up 244-5 in 42 overs at Kirkheaton.

Andy Gledhill was again in form with 66, while Carl Jump reached an unbeaten half-century and Danny Moorhouse 42.

Phil Senior made 57 in reply, but it was too big an ask against the accuracy of Rick Lunn (five for 48) and Jump (three for 31) and they finished nearly 70 runs short.

Micklehurst grabbed their first win of the season as Nick Lawrence (four for 42) and Neil White (three for 13) put the skids under Lascelles Hall.

Home skipper Jonny Forrester then made 56 and Michael Blomley 47 in an opening stand of 108, while Mark Brylowski made an unbeaten 33 to see the Richmond Hill side home by eight wickets.