AN UNBEATEN century from Rob Laycock helped the Foster’s Halifax League earn a place in the semifinals of the West Yorkshire Area Council Inter-League Knockout competition.

Halifax beat the Dales Council League by eight wickets at Jer Lane but were given a minor scare by their visitors.

The Dales Council had not mustered three figures when the sides met last year but they revelled in batsman-friendly conditions on this occasion to pile up 258-8 off their 40 overs.

New team boss Andrew Pinfield was still confident, predicting that this men would knock off the runs with eight overs to spare.

Halifax needed only one delivery more than that with just four batsmen from the Calder Valley clubs required.

Mytholmroyd pair Steve Senior (55) and Tom Earle (27) set the ball rolling with a stand of 89 before Earle departed in the 14th over, soon to be followed by his clubmate.

That brought Booth brothers Rob and Richard Laycock to the crease and the pair added 167 in rapid time to settle the contest.

Rob finished on 103 and younger brother Richard, the captain, on 61.

Earlier, home club player Sam Wilson had been the least expensive bowler, his eight overs down the slope yielding 1-23.

Halifax made one late change, with expectant father Reece Jennison – who hit a century for Blackley on Saturday – replaced by Patrick Thomas of Booth.

Pinfield’s men wil be away to the York & District Senior League in the last four at a date and venue to be arranged.