Bradford League leaders Townville advance in national T20 competition

The Castleford-based team came out on top against the event hosts and North Yorkshire South Durham League side Marton to secure a place in the North regional final at Denby on August 30.

The Bentley Blast T20 champions opened the day with a comfortable 20-run victory over Harrogate as they posted a 158-7 total with Jack Hughes top scoring in making an unbeaten 60 from 34 balls. Matthew Race also contributed 30 and Sanoj Darshika 29.

Harrogate were all out for 138 in reply as Darshika (4-11), Mathew Lumb (2-23) and Race (2-29) did most to restrict them.

Marton were their final opponents and were unable to prevent Townville from making 164-6 as Kieran Collins hit 36, Hughes 31 and Race 30.

In reply Marton never threatened to get near the target as they were kept to 113-9 to lose by 51 runs. Race, Thomas Chippendale and Darshika took two wickets each.

A day earlier Townville held onto top spot in the Bradford League with a commanding 212-run win over Morley.

A strong batting display was at the heart of the victory as they piled up 314-5.

Openers Jonny Booth (56) and Abdul Wahid (75) set the tone with an 140-run stand then Sanoj Darshika contributed 33 and the innings was given further momentum by Hughes, who finished unbeaten on 75, and Race, whose explosive 41 not out from just 17 balls, including five sixes.

Morley never looked likely to mount a serious challenge, wickets falling at regular intervals as they were dismissed for 102. Hughes completed a fine all-round performance with 4-40, while Chippendale, Lumb and Darshika shared the other six wickets.

Townville are eight points clear of New Farnley at the top and 10 ahead of Woodlands.

Methley continued their good recent run in the Premier Division when they beat Carlton by 112 runs to stay in sixth.

Kyle Welsh was the dominant figure in Methley's 289-7, compiling 115, including two sixes and 14 fours.

Jared Warner and Alex Cree both made 41 and James Wainman smashed 31 from only 11 balls.

Carlton were all out for 177 in reply with Taylor Cornall (3-45) the most successful Methley bowler.

Division Two leaders Bowling Old Lane were too strong for Streethouse as they won by 146 runs.

They piled up 327-9 despite 4-67 from Australian Gabe Lawson and 3-79 for Zamurad Khan.

Dishane Rodrigo offered resistance in Streethouse’s reply with 61, while Khan made 36 and Ben Brown 24, but they were all out for 181.

One-time leaders Great Preston are now down in fourth after suffering a damaging nine-wicket defeat against Hartshead Moor.

They managed to make 228 as skipper Jack McGahan hit 55, Sohail Ahmed 49 and Muhammad Shah 43.

But Muhammad Waleed hit an unbeaten 117 as Hartshead chased down the runs impressively.