Proud and Craven book semi-final trip

11:25am Tuesday 1st July 2008

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Birstall’s superb unbeaten run this season came to a dramatic but ultimately disappointing end as they were edged out of the Central Yorkshire League’s flagship JACK HAMPSHIRE CUP by Premier Division title rivals Methley.

In a rain-affected match at Leeds Road, reduced to 27 overs a side, Methley’s former Farsley, Windhill and East Bierley opener John Proud hit a match-best 57 in his side’s 149 for five.

Although the target looked manageable for a Birstall side with such a depth of batting, they eventually fell six short of the visitors’ total with their last pair at the crease.

Rob McFarlane (39) and Paul Marlow (31) top-scored for Birstall but it was former Yorkshire and Harrogate all-rounder Vic Craven, with four wickets in six overs, who did the damage and secured a semi-final trip to Liversedge on Sunday.

The other semi-final will see Townville face Wakefield Thornes.

Townville saw off Wrenthorpe by 31 runs in their delayed quarter-final after a magnificent 123, out of 168 runs scored while he was at the crease, from one-time Leicestershire all-rounder Peter Hepworth.

Townville closed on 216 for eight and Wrenthorpe were then bowled out for 185 as Hepworth crowned a superb day with four for 41 from his eight overs.

Meanwhile, Birstall remain just three points adrift of leaders Wrenthorpe in the PREMIER DIVISION title race after Vikram Rathour clocked up his third century of the season in their game at home to bottom club Scholes.

The former Indian batting star hit 117 in his side’s 264 for six, with McFarlane adding 61, while Scholes were all out for 209 in reply.

Buttershaw St Paul’s collected a welcome DIVISION ONE win from their game at home to Hopton Mills.

Mark Wilson’s unbeaten 83 helped the Bradford side to 195 for eight, while the visitors mustered just 118 as Robinson (4-53) and Mistry (4-41) did the damage.