New Zealand Under 19 all-rounder Graeme Tryon made a spectacular start to his Drakes League career with 178 not out for Marsden in their crushing win over Clayton West in the Jedi Sports Championship.
The Zimbabwe-born right-handed 18-year-old from the Hawkes Bay region was given tremendous support by Jack Smith, with 124 not out, as they piled up an unbroken partnership of 315 in a total of 323-1.
Tryon – who toured Australia with the Kiwi age-group side but did not make their World Cup squad – hammered 13 fours and 13 sixes in his knock, taking out one car windscreen along with way!
Smith hit 10 fours and six sixes in his century and Clayton West were never in the hunt in reply, Adbul Ghafoor claiming four for 47 to send them back for 161.
Signed through Chris Coleman’s contacts, Tryon also bowls some tidy off-spin and his was the stand-out performance on the opening day of the 2014 season, certainly putting the new 12-strong Championship section and Marsden’s bid for an immediate promotion firmly on the map.
There was another century in the Championship, too, as Johnny Greaves hit 103 – Sven Burluraux had 64 – for Broad Oak in their five-point win against promoted Lascelles Hall. The Oak posted 264-7, while Jonny Bishop had 63 in the Hall’s 232-7 reply.
Moorlands also got off to a solid start, taking five points off Armitage Bridge thanks to a solid all-round showing from Aussie Chris Lloyd, who hit 55 before taking four for 36 as the Bridge were pegged to 148-8 in reply to Moorlands 182-6, Haydn Charlton taking three for 40 for the Bridge.
Hall Bower made a winning start after their relegation last season with the help of 75 from Town ambassador Andy Booth in a total of 229-9, opponents Almondbury Wesleyans being dismissed for 146 in reply.
Said Bashir hit 93 for Linthwaite and Asif Qayyum 75 as they totalled 258-8 en route to maximum points against Emley, despite a four for 68 from Kiwi Campbell Thomas.
Emley were all out for 144 in reply, former Shelley man Imran Malik taking four for 17 and Waseem Ullah three for 53.
Cawthorne started their season with a fine six-point win at Thongsbridge, Jake Rodgers took four for 26 and M Ranasingha three for 24 as Thongsbridge were skittled for 102. Ben Simpson then hit 53 not out and Harry Howlett 27 as Cawthorne got home with eight wickets to spare.
In the top flight, Shepley launched the defence of their Byrom Shield title with a comfortable win against Meltham, while there was a surprise home defeat for Hoylandswaine as they were toppled by Delph.
Kenya opening bat Duncan Allan hit 56, Josh Clarkson 37 and Hugh Ellis 30 not out as Shepley posted 265-7, despite Vinod Minhas taking four for 73 for the visitors.
Allan then chipped in with three for 42 as Meltham fell for 207, Minhas top scoring on 54.
Lancashire’s Arron Lilley was the hero for Delph, hitting 139 not out as they chased down Swaine’s 247-8 for the loss of four wickets, Greg Buckley also getting a half century.
Ryan Robinson had hit 110 not out for Swaine, while Lilley took four for 66.
Max Joice was in outstanding form for Honley, hitting 96 not out and making Elland pay for a couple of dropped chances as Simon Kelly’s side knocked off 141 for the loss of three wickets. Tim Taylor with three for 28 and Kelly with three for 38 took the pace off the ball excellently in the Elland innings as Honley bowled them out without the absent Ritchie Howarth.
Alex Scholefield did for his old club Skelmanthorpe by hitting 46 for Barkisland and then taking six for 25 as Skelmanthorpe were skittled for 79 in reply to 182-6.
Skipper Tom Brook led the way for Scholes as they took six points off Golcar at Chapelgate.
Brook, who celebrates his 22nd birthday tomorrow, hit 37 alongside James Noble’s 41 not out, 27 from Kiwi Pete Drysdale and 26 from Adam France as Scholes recovered from a shaky start to reach 169-9. Brook then got to work with the ball, taking five for 42 as Golcar were sent back for 93.
Bilal Khiljee started the season with a bang, hitting 96 and claiming four for 14 as Shelley comfortably defeated Holmfirth.
Shelley totalled 233-4 thanks to Khiljee’s effort, 54 from Paul Winrow and 39 from Louis Sykes. Holmfirth were never really in the hunt and were all out for 133.
Chris Kilner led the way as Slaithwaite marked their return to the top flight with victory over Kirkburton.
Kilner top scored with 36 in a Slaithwaite total of 197-8 and then took four for 42 as Burton were held at 171-9, Iqbal Khan scoring 64.
In the Cedar Court Conference, Cartworth Moor were the only one of the new quartet to win.
Ahmad Hussain hit 63 not out and Abdul Quyyom 57 not out to take the Moor past Denby’s 185-7 (S Ahmed 91, G Potter 64no; A Quyyom 3-34) for the loss of four wickets.
