Pontefract Cricket League: Perks plays captain’s part as Hemsworth defeat Knottingley

A fine effort in the field paved the way for the victory as Knottingley were bowled out for only 71 with Alfie Taberner taking 3-5, Lee Perks 3-8, Jack Heritage 2-21 and Elliot Roberts 2-36. Lahiru Pathirana (22) top scored.

Hemsworth lost only wicket in their reply as they reached their small target in 15.4 overs with skipper Perks hitting 32no.

Premier leaders South Kirkby were made to work hard, but got home by three wickets against Nostell St Oswald after dismissing them for 156.

Martyn Crooks (51) led the response as he hit eight boundaries before Hedley-Paul Keegan (37no) and Reece Slater (15no) brought the side home in a crucial unbroken eighth-wicket stand after they had been reduced to 111-7.

Liam Rollin (5-50) and Ricky Crompton (4-40) had led the Kirkby attack while Wasim Shah put up some serious resistance in a knock of 62 for bottom of the table Nostell and also took 2-32 with Mal Green claiming 3-35 and Simon Rayner 2-36.

Aravinth Kathirvel’s terrific half century proved the difference between the teams as Crofton Phoenix beat Normanton MIB by 79 runs.

Both teams came into the contest with one win from their first league matches and looking to push up the table, but it was Crofton who achieved their aim thanks largely to Kathirvel’s 82-ball knock of 87 which included four sixes and three fours.

Support came from Israr Ahmad (37), Harpartap Singh (26) and Devansh Jadhav (23) as they were able to post a 219-9 total. Waseem Masood (3-51) was the pick of Normanton’s bowlers.

Kathirvel followed up his batting exploits by taking a wicket, but the Phoenix attack was led by Muhammad Abrar (4-26) as MIB were all out for 140, Moinuddin Gory (43) top scoring.

Fourth-placed Old Sharlston beat Fenwick by five wickets after bowling them out for 121 with Jon Railton (5-25) doing most of the damage.

Railton (26no) together with Brendan Norton (40no) then brought Sharlston home for their victory after opener Danny Bullock had made 29.

Calder Grove maintained their fifth position with a 64-run success against previously unbeaten Askern Welfare.

Opener Thomas Oliver Buxton paved the way for the success with a knock of 81 that included 12 fours and a six.

With support from Joshua Buxton (44) Grove were able to post a 211-9 score.

Askern were all out for 147 in reply as Harry Fox claimed 4-29 and Joseph Clough 4-42.

In the Championship there were defeats for Horbury Bridge, Notton Challengers and Crofton Phoenix seconds.

Horbury were well beaten by nine wickets after being bundled out for 102 by Garforth with Kash Baig (24) and Arslan Shahid (24) the only batsmen to put up any resistance.

Faisal Yameen hit 60 for Notton, but they were all out for 154 in reply to a 212-7 score posted by opponents Stainborough.

Crofton were left with an impossible chase when opponents St Chad’s Broomfield piled up a huge 408-5 despite three wickets for Mohsin Raja in their game.

They could only make 191 in reply as Usman Zahir hit 45, Raja Zia Ullah 41 and Ummar Farooq 34.

Jake Medley claimed 5-58 and Yathish Gowda 3-28 as Glasshoughton bowled Thurnscoe Institute out for 116 and went on to win by five wickets.

Clinton Speight (43) top scored in Glasshoughton’s winning reply.

Despite being bowled out for 94 Featherstone Town recorded an 18-run win at Thorpe Audlin in Division One.

Alexander Rusling (4-32) and Vipin Reddy (3-12) bowled them to victory as Thorpe were dismissed for 76 despite Jamie Evans’ battling 46no.

Reddy top scored for Featherstone with 29, but they struggled against an attack led by Jack Unwin (3-20) and Robert Iveson (3-15).

Whitley Bridge were bowled out for 55 as they lost by 106 runs to St Chad’s Broomfield.

Lewis Longstaff top scored with 30 and was also the pick of Bridge’s bowlers with 4-32 along with James Pearson (4-41).