Batley took four points from their Central Yorkshire League game at Northowram Fields to leave just ten points separating the bottom SEVEN clubs with two games remaining.

Naweed Ghany was Batley’s match-winner with a 3-39 return from 15 overs followed by a top-scoring 50 as his side edged home by two wickets to put them in good heart for today’s vital clash with Wakefield Thornes at Mount Pleasant.

Thornes, Northowram and Altofts are all just four points ahead of Batley, still in last place, with Birstall dropping to second bottom for the first time and not hopeful of taking anything from their trip to fifth-placed Townville.

Talk of Connor Williams saving Birstall from the drop has proved premature as the Leeds Road club have suffered a succession of defeats since the Indian batting star was forced to return home early.

A 3-42 return from former Yorkshire and Pudsey St Lawrence man Gary Fellows, following an unbeaten 67 by Eric Austin, swung the game Wrenthorpe’s way to secure a three-run win over Townville and victory over third-bottom Altofts will give them the Premier Division title once again.

In the other games affecting relegation, Northowram are at Carlton and Mirfield Parish go to second-placed Methley.

Division One leaders Moorlands and second-placed Ossett are still neck and neck with a seemingly unassailable lead over St Michaels in third after wins against Buttershaw St Pauls and Liversedge respectively.

Johnathon Burston (47) top-scored for Buttershaw but Steve Lane, following up an unbeaten 50 with a 3-34 bowling stint, Andy Walker (4-42) and Nadeem Hussain (3-39) proved their undoing as Moorlands finished 71-run winners.

It was a little easier for Ossett as Liversedge were bowled out for 113 on the way to a nine-wicket defeat.

Shoiab Latif hit 69 not out for Ossett and they now take on Methley A, while Moorlands go to East Ardsley and Buttershaw are at home to Oulton.