Big-hitting Normanton MIB star Ahmed takes game away from Calder Grove

Normanton MIB piled up a big 345-9 total in their 148-run victory and certainly did not look set for such a score when 64-4 and 133-6.

But some extraordinary big hitting counter attack cricket from Zohaib Ahmed took the game away from Grove.

After coming in at number eight he proceeded to belt the ball to all parts in a knock of 164 not out from 79 balls – smashing 19 sixes and 10 fours. Support came from Waseem Masood (75) who looked set for a century as well before he was run out.

Despite all the carnage Harry Fox bowled well to take 4-61 in 14 overs.

Calder Grove battled hard in their reply, but were dismissed for 197, handing Normanton a 148-run victory. Benjamin Harrison (32) top scored while Masood followed up his batting effort with 4-61 and Wasim Malik claimed 5-49.

A low scoring Premier contest saw Crofton Phoenix beat Nostell St Oswald by three wickets after they bowled them out for 129 with Jasdeep Singh (5-25) doing most of the damage.

Wasim Shah (29) top scored for Nostell who kept fighting when it was their turn to field, taking seven Crofton wickets before the home team reached their target.

They also had a five-wicket haul to celebrate with Kapil Adhikari claiming 5-60, but Phoenix had enough to get home with Israr Ahmad (35) their leading runmaker.

Despite Brayden Pickard’s 64 Old Sharlston went down by 101 runs to Brodsworth Main to drop out of the top four places.

Ramith Rajan also hit 35 and Danny Bullock 28, but they were all out for 177 in reply to 278-8.

After a hiccup the previous week Premier Division leaders South Kirkby were straight back to winning ways, but were pushed by Pollington.

Kirkby remain 24 points clear at the top after getting over the line to win by three wickets.

A good effort in the field set up the victory as Pollington were dismissed for 102 with the wickets falling to Hedley-Paul Keegan (5-42), Liam Rollin (3-47) and Nick Ashton (2-8).

It was to go on to be one of the closest finishes of the day in the Premier as Kirkby lost wickets at regular intervals in their reply.

But they reached their target with three wickets to spare in the 35th over as James Scott top scored with 41.

Knottingley Town were able to defend a 153 total as they beat Fenwick by 13 runs to register only their second league victory of the season.

Despite 52 from Harvey Bukhari and 37 by Pubudu Dasanayaka, Town were not able to post a big score, but disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensured Fenwick were restricted to 140 in their reply. Lahiru Pathirana (4-21) was the pick of the bowlers.

Despite posting a competitive 188-8, Hemsworth MW went down by seven wickets to Askern Welfare.

Jack Heritage’s excellent 71, which included 11 fours and a six, proved in vain as did the efforts of Max Heritage (37no) and Dhiren Patel (26).

Promotion contenders Horbury Bridge carried on their recent winning run with a convincing seven-wicket success at home to Hooton Pagnell in the Championship.

Kash Baig (33no) brought the side home with more than 28 overs to spare as they easily overhauled their opponents’ 83.

Hooton Pagnell’s batting had largely been destroyed by Tom Womersley who claimed 6-28 while Arslan Shahid took 3-29.

Notton Challengers were handed a walkover as Thurnscoe Institute conceded, but Crofton Phoenix seconds lost out by 74 runs despite making 213 against Rothwell.

An unnamed loan player top scored with 66 while Munasab Hussain hit 31 in an innings restricted by Omeir Iqbal (3-40) and Paul Ellis (3-55).

Rothwell’s 287-9 total owed much to A Khan’s incredible 181, which included 26 fours and nine sixes. Iftikhar Asghar, with 3-78, was Crofton’s most successful bowler.

Glasshoughton could only muster 79 runs in their Championship game against title challengers Garforth and were beaten by seven wickets.

Only Yathish Gowda (19) and Craig Maskill (15) reached double figures.

Second-placed Thorpe Audlin boosted their chances of promotion with a six-wicket success against Ferrybridge Power Station in Division One.

Good bowling from Charlie Abel (5-29) and Jack Unwin (3-31) set up the win as fourth-placed Ferrybridge were dismissed for 120 despite Kieron Blanchard hitting 13 boundaries in a knock of 68.

Division One leaders Newton Hill marched on with an 117-run success against Featherstone Town.

Batting first, they made 212 with Aravind Santhosh hitting 52 and Baiju Pappachan 33. Bradley Stirling and Robert Williams took three wickets each.

In reply, Town were dismissed for 95 as Pappachan did most of the damage with 7-20.

A half century from Jaspal Singh proved in vain as Whitley Bridge went down by five wickets to Batley thirds.

Singh hit 51 and was supported by Diljit Singh (40) and Henry Keep (30) in Bridge’s 197.