Round-up of games played on 22 April

 

With the game at Elsecar postponed due to Eid al-Fitr, and the games at Hallam and Whitley Hall postponed due unfit grounds, there was play in just three games. The game of the day was at Chichester Road, where Cleethorpes and Sheffield Collegiate played out a thrilling tie. A second wicket stand of 166 between the long-serving Bill Kirby (93) and the returning Jordan Cook (76) took the home side to 230-6, despite Henry Eldred’s 4-56, after they elected to bat first. Debutant Abdul Faseeh (87) led the visitors’ reply, supported by an unbeaten 59 from another returnee, Jack Timby; but with eleven required off the last over, then one off the last ball, Eldred was caught in the deep to leave the scores level. Cook completed a fine all-round game with 5-52. 

 

In a lower-scoring game at Town Fields, Joe Billings (48) held the top order together for visitors Wakefield Thornes, who also elected to bat first. After he became Andrew Parkin-Coates third victim at 102-4, on the latter’s way to 4-40, Thornes subsided to 157 all out. Thornes new overseas signing Shubham Sharma then dominated Doncaster Town’s innings with figures of 12.3-6-16-6, as the visitors completed a 43-run win. 

 

In the third game, at Alderson Drive, Tickhill made the most of being asked to bat first against Barnsley Woolley Miners. Half-centuries from newcomers Harry Swindells (56), Connor Fisher (71) and Ben Mike (71) led them to 245-6, but despite 40 from another debutant, Liam Johnson, the visitors were never really in the hunt and Adi Sreedharan took 5-40 as they were bowled out for 134. 

 

 

Three Championship games beat the weather, whilst the games at Conisbrough, Sheffield Collegiate and Sprotbrough were all cancelled. The day’s tightest finish was at School Lane, where Darfield sneaked home by one wicket in a low-scoring game. Riecko Parker-Cole took 4-30 to restrict visitors Doncaster Town 2nds to 102-9 after they were asked to bat first. In reply, Kastun Stoute hit 42 off 27 balls at the top of the order, and Lewis Pike 30 off 11 at number four, but the rest of the batsmen struggled against Joe Gallagher (5-36) and Warren Graca (4-27). 

 

There was no happy return to Middlecliffe Lane for Michael Bates and Simon Brown, as their new side, Wath, slipped to a 49-run defeat against their old club, Houghton Main. After electing to bat first, Adam Wiles (51) led the way to Houghton’s 149 after they had elected to bat first, before Shawn Hopkins (4-31) out the bowling side on top. The home side’s new overseas player, Vikas Dixit, then proved to be the match-winner with 7-34, to add to his 35 runs in the first innings. 

 

Last season’s third-placed side, Wickersley Old Village, recorded a seven-wicket win over Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds at Shaw Lane. Mark Cummins (3-19 in ten overs) and Connor Snelgrove (4-42) helped dismiss the home side for 131 after they had decided to bat first, before new overseas signing Vishvaraj Jadeja (82 not out) took the visitors to a comfortable win. 

 

 

The Sheffield United v Whitley Hall 2nds game was postponed due to Eid, but all the other five scheduled games took place. Ackworth recorded their second win of the season by a resounding 144 runs over Wakefield Thornes 2nds after being asked to bat first at Field Lane. Forties from top four batsmen John Wood, Amitpaul Kundra and Luke Townsend saw their side to 202-8, before Shingi Masakadza (5-10) took five of the first six wickets to reduce Thornes to 32-6. George Gillespie then mopped up the tail with 3-12 as the visitors were all out for 58. 

 

Wickersley Old Village 2nds were also big winners, after Liam Heathcote (104 off 51 balls) led them to an impressive 284-4 against Green Moor, after they had decided to bat first at Northfield Lane. In reply Daniel Airstone and Wayne Hughes both hit 56, but the rest of the batsmen struggled against David Mace (6-44) and the visitors were all out for 151. 

 

There was a straightforward nine-wicket win for Rockingham Colliery at Clifton Lane. After they had asked Rotherham Town to bat first, Peter Lomas (6-28) and Jordan Hanson (4-27) shared the wickets as the hosts were bowled out for 89. 

 

After Coal Aston had asked Aston Hall 2nds to bat first at Green Lane, Shaun Trower took 3-17 for the visitors as the home side were bowled out for 98. Daniel Hemingway, with 40 off 35 balls at number four, then proved the match-winner as Coal Aston won by four wickets in the 23rd over. 

 

The lowest scoring game in the division saw Upper Haugh bowled out for 51 after being put in to bat by Oughtibridge War Memorial, Joel Mann leading the way with 4-13 in ten overs. At 33-6 in reply, the visitors were in trouble, but Sam Patel then hit an unbeaten 20 off 20 balls to see them home by four wickets. 

 

 

With the games at Norton Oakes, Thorpe Hesley, Treeton and Warmsworth all cancelled, the only game to take place in Division 2 was at Hatfield Town. Visitors Parkhead decided to field first and bowled Town out for 158, Chris Turner leading the way with 4-25, whilst Ellis Pattison hit 60 off 87 balls for the home side. It was a score that was more than adequate though, as the visitors were reduced to 27-8 by opening bowlers Kevin Marshall (3-16) and Aaron Horsfield (6-20), and duly completed a comprehensive 110-run win. 

 

 

The games at Caribbean, Cawthorne and Worsbrough Bridge were cancelled, which left three games to beat the elements in Division 3. Stocksbridge hit the division’s top score of the day, 156, after being asked to bat first by Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds at Waterside Gardens. Opener Joe Hibbert (47) top-scored for the visitors, whilst Rafiullah Ahmed and John Searsby took three wickets each for the home side. Jake Vickers (3-24) and Joe Hibbert (3-16) then did the damage as Oughtbridge were bowled out for 91. 

 

The tightest game was at Moor Road, where home side Wath 2nds beat Frechville Community by two wickets. Kelham Bennett (4-18) and Sam Whitlam (4-12) bowled the visitors out for 79, before Todd Saxelby (5-19 in 13 overs) reduced the home side to 50-8. Father and son Mark and Peter Barlow then came together in an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 30 to see their side home by two wickets in the 42nd over. 

 

In the other game, at Bence Lane, Ashley Clayton (4-17) was the main man for visitors Monk Bretton, who won the toss and bowled Kexborough out for 105. He then followed up with an unbeaten 35 to see his side home with five wickets and 11 overs to spare. 

 

 

Only one game survived in Division 4, with Handsworth, Higham, Rockingham, Silkstone and Wombwell all succumbing to the weather. This was at Church Fields, where Whiston Parish Church 2nds had a high-scoring win over Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds. Having been asked to bat first, the home side reached 257-7 in their 40 overs, chiefly thanks to Samuel Bowden, whose 126 came off just 87 balls. There were four wickets in the second innings for Aura Kent, and Callum Bailey top-scored for the Woolley side with 49, but it was not enough, and they were bowled out for 207. 

 

 

With the games at Fishlake, Penistone and Shiregreen already postponed, Division 5 was completely wiped out as the games at Coal Aston, Hallam and Whiston Forge fell to the wet ground conditions. 

 

 

The home games of Bradfield, Green Moor, Sheffield University and Wickersley were all cancelled, leaving play at just Ackworth and Mexborough. Mexborough Athletic enjoyed a very convincing 120-run win over Higham 2nds at the Beecroft Estates ground, scoring 205-5 in 40 overs after being asked to bat first. Kripal Singh, with an unbeaten 106 off 85 balls, was their star man, and he enjoyed good support from keeper Bradley Sharp in a 122-run sixth wicket stand. Brandon Cooke, with 5-32, dominated with the ball in the second innings, as Higham were all out for 85. 

 

At the Boot & Shoe ground, Ackworth 2nds were also put in to bat, this by visitors Brookhouse, and James Clarke, with an unbeaten 47, lifted them from 103-5 to 193-6. In reply, the visitors were soon in trouble at 23-5 and never really recovered, despite Jasneet Gulati’s 43, and were all out for 99. 

 

 

The games at Frecheville, Millhouses and Woolley were all cancelled, which left those at Eden Grove and Stocksbridge. In the former, the newly-merged Scholes & Harley got their season off to a fine start after being asked to bat first by Eden Grove Parklands. Tom Wade (73) and Sam Lowery (31) put on 111 for the visitors’ first wicket, and although no-one else reached double figures, a score of 134-6 was more than enough. Callum Sverdlott (4-12) and Jamie Oliver (4-14) then did most of the damage as Parklands were shot out for just 29. 

 

By coincidence, Mexborough Athletic 2nds were dismissed for exactly the same score away to Stockbridge 2nds – who themselves had managed only a modest 111 after being asked to bat first. Dom Gentlesmith’s 42 for the home side was comfortably the highest score of the game, whilst for Mexborough, Jonathan Guest had figures of 10-5-11-4. But Rowan Brearley took 5-14 in the second innings to help Stocksbridge to an 82-run win. 

 

 

Only one game survived in division 8, the home games of Adwick-le-Street, Doncaster, Rockingham and Wentworth, all being cancelled. The one game that did take place was a low-scoring affair, visitors Upper Haugh 3rds making just 90 after being asked to bat first by Wath 3rds, for whom Aiden Hincliffe took 4-10, whilst Shaun Cristinacce top-scored with 33 for the visitors. Remarkably Lee Jeffries scored 58 for the home side in reply, but no-one else reached double figures as Joe Platts, Hayden Cooney and William Adams all took three wickets, and Wath were dismissed for 70. 

 

 

Two of the four games in Division 9 survived, whilst those at Brookhouse and Scholes were cancelled. Newcomers Barnby Dun 2nds reached 148-9 after being asked to bat first at home to Fishlake 2nds, Lee McMahon top-scoring with 35, before bowling out their visitors for 65, with three wickets apiece for Nick Ashton and Leo McConway-Gee. 

 

In the other game, Kexborough 2nds also won after being put in to bat, this after being bowled out for 118 by Dearne. Ethan Shillito was the match-winner for Kexborough with 74, whilst Luke Copley returned 4-7 for the visitors, before Andrew Greaves was the top bowler for the home side with 4-22, as they bowled Dearne out for 64.