SCHOLES' chances of moving into the JCT600 Bradford League next season with the All Rounder Cricket Equipment Central Yorkshire League title under their belt are fast fading but they could still make the end-of-season Yorkshire Council play-offs.

They collected four points from a must-win game at home to Mirfield Parish Cavaliers but some dogged batting from Parish, despite a 5-36 return from Zain Abbas, denied them maximum points as Parish closed on 125-9 in their 50 overs.

In reply, Scholes made short work of their task as Nick Whitehill (64) and skipper James Stansfield (53) put on an unbeaten 115-run stand for the third wicket to move within six points of second-placed Townville.

Methley still lead the table by 55 points after they beat Hopton Mills by 167 runs, while Townville are eight points behind after beating Wrenthorpe and Ossett lying third after Shoaib Latif's 159 not out ensured a 92-run win at Altofts.

There seems no respite for Birstall, lying one place above relegation, after crashing to a 68-run defeat at home to bottom club Hunslet Nelson.

The visitors posted a testing total when Tommy Roy's 102 – his first century in four years – helped them to 276-8 and Birstall were never up to the target, despite a good knock from Eric Austin (67) in their 208 all out.

If Birstall do go down there is every chance that Batley and Liversedge could replace them, although Buttershaw St Paul's are still in with a chance of promotion from the Championship.

In the top game of the day in that division, Liversedge moved just four points behind leaders Batley after they beat them by 34 runs at Roberttown Lane.

Matthew Gibson (80no) top-scored in Liversedge's 204-6 before Simon Kay wrapped it up with a 6-55 return to help bowl out Batley.

Liversedge leap-frogged Northowram Fields, who lost by 13 runs at East Ardsley, while an 81-run win for Buttershaw at Oulton lifted them into fourth place – but still 12 adrift of a promotion spot.