IT IS definitely nip and tuck in the race for the arrow Central League Premiership title between Azaad and Almondbury Wesleyans.

Both teams took maximum points in their latest fixtures, and with just one point separating them, it’s anybody’s crown.

Azaad defeated next-to-bottom Nortonthorpe, while Wesleyans dented Thornhill & Westborough’s own title aspirations with a 95-run victory over in Dewsbury.

Matthew Henshaw hit a half-century for Almondbury, while there was 30-odd apiece from the Binns brother, William making 34 and Tom 38 in the visitors’ 195-6 target.

Nick Finnigan’s 31 was the only knock worth mentioning when Thornhill replied as Saqib Matlub, Will Binns and Oliver Shaw each claimed two wickets apiece as the home side tumbled to 100 all out.

Leaders Azaad also batted first at home to Nortonthorpe and with Hanif Mahboob making 54, Tanveer Hussain (37) and Zaeem Zulfiqar (36), the Horbury boys posted a 195-6 total.

Peter Hird’s 45 was the pick of Nortonthorpe’s innings, but once he had fallen the rest followed, Kashif Najam taking three for 37 as they visitors were all out for 134.

Thurstonland’s Lee Booth produced the bowling performance of the season as he bagged nine for 26 from 11.2 overs to skittle Holmbridge for just 63, Tom Broom preventing him getting all 10.

Only two men got into double figures, opener Martin Gledhill (11) and last man Gary Parr (10no) as the Bridge replied to Thurstonland’s 132-7 total.

Woodfield Park looked doomed to relegation, and went down by four wickets in their latest run-out against Denby.

Opener Mark Askham scored 88 for Woodfield, while Tony Wilkinson bagged an excellent seven for 40 from 10.5 overs to knock the basement side over for 161.

Denby looked in trouble after losing early wickets, Tokir Sura taking four of them for 22 runs, before Shane Payne halted the slide with an unbeaten 51, backed up by Paul Goodman who was still there at the end on 21 not out.

Mount looked to have almost sealed the Section A title, but they slipped up against Old Almondburians losing by 48 runs after Tim Taylor and Sam Atkin both hit half-centuries for the Old Boys in a 220-4 tally.

Usama Sacha replied with 64, but four wickets for Atkin had Mount struggling and they were bowled out in the 43rd over.

Chris Allen bagged an unbeaten ton as Heckmondwike & Carlinghow rattled up a hefty 298-4 total against Almondbury Wesleyans’ second string which proved far too many for the Kaye Laners.