Premier Division round-up for 13 August

On a day when three of the four teams at the bottom end of the table at the start of play all won, Elsecar’s win away at Appleby Frodingham was the most impressive, and the twelve points earned were priceless in keeping them just above the relegation places. The visitors asked Appleby to bat first, and Jordan Cook and Alex Grimes put on 82 for the first wicket. After both had fallen to Muhammed Ilyas and Craig Moffat had removed Kieran Lindley cheaply, the home side were 123-3, before Jordan Neil and Jack Harrison took their side to 199-3. After that, the innings fell away somewhat, and Elsecar had a target of 220 to win. Jordan Neil removed both openers and Paul Hilton the dangerous Bilal Anjam and, at 39-3, it all looked to be going to plan for the leaders. But Kashif Naveed and Tanzeel Ali swung the game the visitors’ way with a fourth-wicket stand of 144, and Elsecar claimed a great win. However, the Steelmen will have to wait a little longer to see if they can reclaim their crown. 

 

Appleby Frodingham 219-7 (50) Jordan Cook 53, Alex Grimes 32, Jordan Neil 72 

Elsecar 223-6 (48.3) Kashif Naveed 58, Tanzeel Ali 85, Jordan Neil 4-46 

 

Sheffield Collegiate chose to bat first against championship challengers Tickhill at Abbeydale, but were soon in trouble at 52-4, as Josh Court claimed three early wickets. A patient 47 from the experienced Ed McKenna, with assistance lower in the order from Henry Eldred, helped the home side up to 182, despite a fine spell by Adi Sreedharan, but it didn’t look enough to trouble the visitors. The early wicket of Ross Diver brought in Tian Koekemoer for his final appearance of the season, and he put his side in control, sharing in half-century partnerships with James Stuart and Connor Fisher. When he fell at 163-5, only 17 more were needed for the visitors’ twelveth win of the season. They are within two wins of the leaders, and will not give up the fight till the end. 

 

Sheffield Coll 182 (49.5) Ed McKenna 47, Henry Eldred 47, Josh Court 3-38, Adi Sreedharan 4-39 

Tickhill 184-6 (45.5) Tian Koekemoer 69, Henry Eldred 3-38 

 

Wakefield Thornes’ trip to the seaside brought them a third consecutive win and kept them within six points of Tickhill. Having elected to bat first, three successive 50-plus stands took them to 183-3, with half-centuries from skipper James Wolfenden and Joe Billings. Sameera Sadamal was the most successful bowler for Cleethorpes, and Tom Rollinson the most economical, with just 19 coming from his ten overs, but they were unable to prevent the visitors posting a testing 245-5. The prolific Tom Keast helped his side to reach 116-1, but Imran Mahboob then took three wickets to help reduce the home side to 136-5. Callum Carter revived his side’s hopes with 48 off 40 balls, but when he fell at 199-9 and overs running out, it looked all over. But Matthew Owen at number eleven had other ideas, and he hit an unbeaten 30 off ten balls; this with three sixes – only one short of giving his side a famous win. His efforts did, however, give his side four bonus points, which could yet prove vital in four weeks’ time. 

 

Wakefield T 245-5 (50) James Wolfenden 50, Joe Billings 73, James Rhodes 43, Sameera Sadamal 4-71 

Cleethorpes 240-9 (50) Tom Keast 70, Tom Rollinson 34, Callum Carter 48, Jawad Akhtar 3-73, Imran Mahboob 3-18 

 

Three League records fell at Church Fields after Barnsley Woolley Miners had elected to bat first against Whiston Parish Church. Jake Weatherald, who has done so much to revive his club’s fortunes since his arrival, marked his final appearance of the season with a League record individual score of 270 (off 107 balls and including 17 fours and 27 sixes), and passing 1,000 runs for the season, in only his 14th innings, in the process. He finally fell to Whiston’s most successful bowler, Harry Paver, at 411-5, and with supporting contributions from five other batsmen who passed 30, his side reached a record 512-9. Weatherald added 106 for the fourth wicket with Ali Jahjangir, who scored 15 off the 19 balls he faced in this time. Ollie Jackson provided the final flourish with 36 not out off 19 balls. Against this mammoth score, Whiston had no chance of claiming victory, and Danny Kemp, who came in at 20-1, hit 69 off 108 balls in taking them to 157-8 to ensure that they were not humiliated, whilst there was defiance from Lewis Pike in the middle order, with 32 off 16 balls. The 333-run victory margin provided the game’s third new league record. Barnsley consolidated their top four position, whilst wins for the three sides above them mean that Whiston will return to the Championship next season. 

 

Barnsley WM 512-9 (50) Jake Weatherald 270, Sheryaar Ali 34, Jon Trower 38, Oliver Bennett 42, Leo Johnson 32, Ollie Jackson 36*, Harry Paver 4-93 

Whiston PC 179 (45) Danny Kemp 69, Lewis Pike 32, Ali Jahangir 3-54 

 

Treeton leapfrogged their visitors Whitley Hall into seventh place with a 108-run win at Washfield Lane. Having elected to bat first, the home side got off to a fine start as Dave Rodgers and Steve Foster put on 122 for the first wicket. Viraj Bhosale (33 off 23 balls) and Sam Drury (43 off 34) increased the momentum, and Treeton posted a very challenging 269-8 in their 50 overs, despite as fine 122-over spell by Biswick Kapala. A careful 38 helped the visitors to 73-2 in reply, but they then lost four wickets for the addition of 13 runs, two each to spinners Will Street and Liam Johnson, and at 86-6 were facing an uphill task. Andrew Pickering, making a rare first team appearance, hit 35 off 34 balls, but when he fell at 143, the last four wickets added only 19 more runs. Treeton are now 16 points above the relegation places, Whitley two behind them, so neither are safe yet. 

 

Treeton 269-8 (50) Dave Rodgers 49, Steve Foster 71, Viraj Bhosale 33, Sam Drury 43, Biswick Kapala 3-52 

Whitley Hall 161 (44.2) Ben Tracey 38, Andrew Pickering 35, Vinnie Ogden 3-47, Liam Johnson 3-48 

 

Doncaster Town elected to bat first against Cawthorne at Dark Lane, but with two early wickets falling to Ryan Gibson, were soon 12-3. George Fisher and James Ward revived the innings with a stand of 57, but after Fisher was out, wickers started to fall again, and Michael Jepps mopped up the lower order before taking the wicket of Ward, last out at 140. When the home side batted, Curtis Free took the early wicket of Jepps, but Taruwar Kohli then took control, putting on 81 for the third wicket with Kade Fletcher, to assure a vital win that keeps their survival hopes alive. Doncaster are sixth, and look to have done enough to secure their Premier Division safety. 

 

Doncaster T 140 (44.4) George Fisher 31, James Ward 63, Michael Jepps 5-40 

Cawthorne 142-3 31.5) Taruwar Kohli 77, Kade Fletcher 34*