IT was a day of shocks in the Premier Division where the table was turned upside down as two lower placed teams beat title challengers. Triangle was the major benefactor as it went 7 points (Covid-19 adjusted) clear at the top.

The biggest shock of the season thus far came at second-placed Illingworth St Mary’s where visiting SBCI batted first and scored 184-9, including 49 from Sam Hinchcliffe. It looked an achievable target but the situation changed dramatically after tea when the home team was soon struggling at 21-5. Four of the wickets fell for six runs as Oliver Benson (4-15) proved practically unplayable and it was not too long before the remaining five batsmen were removed to give SBCI a memorable 12 points, as the Illingworth players could hardly look at a scoreboard showing 68 all out.

Booth took advantage of the two slip-ups and went to town against bottom-of-the Shelf Northowram HT and rattled up a large target of 305 all out, batting first at Broad Fold Park.

At the start of its innings leaders Triangle found the going tougher than normal at home to Thornton as none of its top six batsmen passed 35 runs with tight bowling from the visiting five bowlers restricting the scoring. However Edward Denham (44 not out) launched a counter attack and the home team closed on 236-9. The Thornton top order is having a poor season, best illustrated by the fact that Josh Hutchinson recorded his fourth score under 10, and it was again struggling at 25-3.

Tim Shackleton (66), again, tried to rescue the situation but when he was dismissed at 120-5 it was basically match over, the bowling honours going to Kurtis Whippey (6-68) as Thornton closed on 182 all out.

Low Moor HT enjoyed its afternoon at The Trinity Oval against Mount as its middle-order batsmen made considerable contributions including those from Jason Gelder (70), Matthew Jordan (55) and Mark Stokes (42) in a total of 245-6. Mount in reply failed to cope with the Trinity bowling, especially that of Connor Briscoe (5-25), and were 108 all out in 32.5 overs as the home team closed on second placed Foot, now just two points adrift.

Oxenhope’s poor run of form continued as it was bowled out for 100 runs chasing the small target of 126 all out, set by visitors’ Great Horton PC.

Clayton set a target of 240-6 at Upper Hopton with skipper Joseph Brown (58 not out) leading the scoring closely followed by Adnaan Shafique (57). It was far too many for the home team whose bright start to the season is fading rapidly, not a surprise to one of its stalwarts. Hopton only made 88 all out as Sam Wilson recorded the best figures of his career with 7.5-5-8-6.

In Division 2, Queensbury came crashing down to earth from the highs of 406-6 last week to an astonishing low of 64 all out at Outlane – funny game this cricket. The home side had scored an impressive 269-9, as eight batsmen reached double figures with skipper Adam Davies (77) leading the charge backed up by Callum Westwood (49). Queensbury tried six bowlers to slow the run rate but when it batted there was no talk of run rates as Zeeshan Rahman recorded personal best figures of 11.2-6-17-7 as only 22.2 overs were needed for Outlane to leapfrog its opponents and take second place in the table.

Bridgeholme appear to be the team for close finishes and, following its efforts last week, went one better this time as it travelled to Stones and won by 3 runs. Batting first it posted 176 all out with a team effort as runs were spread from most of its batsmen, Ethan Pollard the pick of the Stones bowlers with 4-28. The hosts reply was on target throughout, but never on top of the task, as opener Gary Hulme (41) set a sound base. However the plaudits for the match go to Bridgeholme skipper Mohammed Basharat as, following a knock of 33 not out, the handling of his five bowlers, all who took wickets, was a classic example of keeping the opposition batsmen under pressure. As Sohail Sajjad took 4-46 that pressure proved decisive and Stones fell those 3 runs short, despite having one wicket in hand.