MATCH of the day in the Halifax League came at Bridgeholme in Division Two, where Upper Hopton were the visitors.

The hosts’ opener Mohammed Asif only lasted four balls before he had to retire hurt, but his partner Sohail Sajjad (145) and Hamza Bhatti (103) then combined in a tremendous partnership worth 230.

Zaheer Abbas then added a quickfire 56 to put the home team on the way to a massive 389-8.

However, the Upper Hopton batters took up the challenge with gusto.

Every batter, with the exception of the not out No.11, reached double figures in a fantastic team effort, led by a maiden century from Joseph Woodhouse (100) with back-up knocks from Matthew Haigh (56), Ian Wightman (45no) and Callum Fern (43), plus the rest.

Ian Wightman hit the winning runs as he and last man Charlie Wightman (0no) took the score from 379-9 to a winning 392-9, which is understood to be a record Hopton team score - 781 runs on the day.

In contrast, four Mount bowlers shared the wickets at Augustinians as the home team were bowled out for only 55, with Mahmadbhai Makda recording 4-6.

Less than 12 overs were required to score 60-0 as Mount increased the pressure on leaders Southowram.

In the Premier Division, Warley’s 236-6 at Thornton was a rarity as all eight batters at the crease reached double figures, but none scored 40 runs.

Their average was over 28 runs each, setting the hosts a run rate of 5.27 for victory.

The 236 proved just a few runs too short, however, as, in the tightest finish of the day, Thornton won off the last ball of the day in making 239-9.

Josh Hutchinson (64) and Joe Marshall (50no) top scored, with the latter, batting at No.8, hitting the winning runs to complete his half-century.

Illingworth St Mary's were keen to get back to winning ways, after last week’s blip, when bottom-of-the-table Great Horton Park Chapel visited The Astleys.

St Mary’s scored 235-9, with Gary Fellows (59), Callum Cook (52) and Jake Fellows (42) all providing good performances, Adam Beesley taking 4-44.

With Matthew Smith taking 5-34 for St Mary’s, Horton’s stay in the top flight now appears as though it will last just one season as, in being bowled out for 110, they are now 34 points adrift of Warley in tenth place.

Leaders Oxenhope kept the pressure on at the top of the First Division with a seven-wicket win at Clayton.

Batting first, the hosts just managed to reach 100 as Daniel Scott took 5-21 in only 7.5 overs.

Clayton did not help themselves with two run outs, as only three batters reached double figures.

Oxenhope lost three wickets in reaching a winning 104 runs as Joseph Ousey ensured maximum points with 40 not out.

At Shelf Northowram Hedge Top, the home team rattled up the division’s highest score of the day in making 266-7, with skipper Harry Talbot hitting a career best 124 not out against Queensbury.

Six other batters made double-figure contributions as the bottom of the table team suffered.

The latter, especially Bradley Gerrard-Harrison (71), made a valiant effort in the chase but fell at 198, Oliver Hemingway (4-48) and Aamir Rashid (4-62) causing most of the damage.

Low Moor Holy Trinity relied, in the main, on four batters as they posted 152 on their visit to Sowerby St Peter’s.

However the home team suffered a willow breakdown, being skittled for 98, summed up by the last man Jack Leonard being top scorer with 24 as Matthew Jordan took 4-24.

Trinity moved into third place but there is a gap of 17 points to make up on Blackley.