12:02pm Tuesday 19th August 2008
By Sports Desk
Birstall lost their long unbeaten record in the Central Yorkshire League Premier Division when they went down by 65 runs in their top-of-the-table clash with leaders Wrenthorpe at Leeds Road.
This was a game Birstall needed to win to give them a realistic chance of carrying off the title this year but, on the day, Wrenthorpe lifted their game.
Birstall were chasing a total of 275 for six but were left with just too much to do.
Connor Williams (64), Rob McFarlane (54) and Vikram Rathour (33) gave Birstall a useful start but they were always behind the clock and in the end were indebted to teenager James Keen (31no) for securing a point and denying the visitors a maximum six.
Former Windhill and Farsley opener John Proud hit a fine century for Wrenthorpe on a day when the home side’s attack were found wanting.
Former Pudsey St Lawrence and Yorkshire all-rounder Gary Fellows took five for 38 to clinch a crucial victory for the visitors and leave them four points clear with four games to play.
In Division One, relegation-threatened Buttershaw St Paul’s improved their survival hopes when they completed a surprise eight-wicket win at promotion hopefuls Altofts after bowling them out for just 67.
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