Mahmood raises Brighouse hopes

A revamped Russell Way outfit, belatedly playing their first game of the season, dismissed their hosts for 147 with Abid Awan (4-32) showing the way. Craig Wood (33) offered most resistance.

Brighouse quickly knocked off the runs with Asad Mahmood hitting six sixes and five fours in 67 not out, Sohail Hussain adding 33.

Lightcliffe suffered a second heavy home defeat in eight days and prop up the Premier Division at this early stage.

They went down by 115 runs against Methley, who posted a challenging 225-8.

Skipper Grant Soames hit seven sixes in his 97 and then followed up with four for 22 as Lightcliffe were dismissed for 110 with only opener Alex Stead (42) emerging with credit.

It was no one-man show for the visitors with 16-year-old spinner Harry Sullivan taking six for 38, Lightcliffe counterpart Danyaal Ahmed having earlier taken 3-53.

Former Halifax League champions Jer Lane got off the mark at the second time of asking since switching leagues when they won by one wicket at Azaad in the Conference.

An easy win looked likely when Amjid Khan’s 6-20 sent the home side packing for 55 but Imran Mahboob (6-11) gave them plenty of anxious moments before the winning run was made with the last pair at the crease.

RASTRICK were seven-wicket winners at Barkisland yesterday in a rare Huddersfield League derby meeting between the pair.

The hosts lost their top flight place last season and were unable to make a winning start in the Championship with Majid Khan making a sparkling debut for the Round Hill side.

The left-hander made an unbeaten 126 and skipper Jacob Waterson hit 57 as the visitors surged past Barkisland’s 200-8 with 12.1 overs to spare.

Elland maintained their promising start in the same section with an emphatic 179-run success over Meltham at Hullen Edge.

The bowlers had laid the foundations for victory against Almondbury in the opener but yesterday’s it was the batsmen’s turn.

Elland powered to 314-5 with second-wicket pair Liam Fletcher (96) and Greg Alexander (76) getting some early-season runs under their belts.

Experienced Paul Winrow (67) and former New Zealander under 19s player Alex Hodgson (49 no) then turned the screw on the visitors in the warm sunshine.

Wicketkeeper Sam Clegg led Meltham’s response with 62 at the top of the order but apart from number three Jack Moulson’s 26 it was a tale of woe for the visitors. They were dismissed for 135 with spinner Peter Dobson’s four for 14 hastening their demise.