Matthew Race is all-round star as Wrenthorpe open with win over Premier new boys

An opening day six-wicket victory over Premier Division new boys Batley in the Gordon Rigg Bradford League went according to plan, but a day later they went out of the Solly Sports Heavy Woollen Cup at the first round stage when beaten by six wickets by a Birstall team from a division below.

Wrenthorpe, who only avoided relegation on the final day of the 2019 season, started the new league season like they mean to do better this time as they bowled out Batley for 145 with Matthew Race (4-73) the pick of their bowlers.

Race then followed up with 39no with the bat, while Sam Wigglesworth (44no) and Mohammad Suleman (35) also helped Wrenthorpe to their modest victory target.

Five-times winners Wrenthorpe were second best in Sunday’s cup tie as Mark Kingham (45) was their only batsman to make an impression and they were bowled out for 120 .

Salt was rubbed into their wounds when their former opener Eric Austin scored 37 as Birstall eased home.

Wakefield Thornes also crashed out of the Heavy Woollen Cup as they ran into some incredible hitting from Ben Walter, who powered East Bierley to a one-wicket win.

Walter smashed 22 sixes and 14 fours in an 113-ball innings of 227 not out which enabled his side to chase down a Thornes score of 340-6 with 10.3 overs to spare.

Thornes also had a big-hitting batsman in Byron Boshoff, who smashed eight sixes and 14 fours in a great knock of 142. He put on 165 for the opening wicket with James Wolfenden (69) and few would have predicted the eventual outcome while they were at the wicket.

Sandal beat Crossbank Methodists by nine wickets on their debut in the competition.

Lee Geldard (4-16) and Sam Noden (3-31) led their attack as the home side were bowled out for 120. Danny Riley (47), Karl Hewitt (44) and Chris Gibson (34no) knocked off the runs.

Opener Chris Holliday (94) and SP Singh (79) put on 132 for the opening wicket as Hoylandswaine chased down an Ossett score of 230 to secure a seven-wicket win in their cup tie.

For Ossett, Harvey Anderson top scored with a battling 53.

Ossett were in winning form in Bradford Division One on Saturday as they overhauled Undercliffe’s 157 to win by three wickets. New signing Marcus Walmsley top scored with 61no while James Keen hit 53.

Division Two saw wins for Wakefield St Michael’s and Sandal, but a loss for East Ardsley.

St Michael’s scrambled to a one-wicket win over Spen Victoria after bowling them out for 121. Qasar Hammed (46) top scored with spinner Zaeem Zulfqar (4-32) their best bowler.

East Ardsley lost by two wickets to Jer Lane despite posting a decent 244 total, which included 51 from Simon Tucker.

An opening stand of 113 between Karl Hewitt (71) and Danny Riley (49) helped Sandal to 237-8 as they defeated Bowling Old Lane by 71 runs.

Zeeshan Haider made 74 for Old Lane while Sam Noden (5-53) ensured impressive Sandal opened with a win.

There was a remarkable Division Three game at Altofts where an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 196 between Ben Walsh (112no) and Danny Eden (87no) enabled the home side to chase down Heckmondwike & Carlinghow’s formidable 315-6 to win with 10 balls to spare.

Walsh struck two sixes and 13 fours as he and Eden capitalised on the earlier good work of Harry Wilkinson (64).

Heckmondwike & Carlinghow must have been stunned to lose with such a good score on the board. Kanhu Pattniyik (85), Paul Cooper (57) and Matthew Crowther (44) were their main contributors, while Eden (4-88) was the one bowler to enjoy any success as the batsmen on both sides dominated.