HALIFAX League Division Two promotion favourites Low Moor HT maintained their 17-point cushion at the top with a 62-run win at home to Queensbury in one of only two matches on the day where all 20 wickets fell.

On this occasion the reason was that individual performances were at a premium, with only Jason Gelder (75) and Ryan Williamson (44 not out) standing out in a total of 209 all out for the home team as Joseph Clough took 5-43.

When Queensbury replied stand-outs were even rarer and, had it not been for No 8 Connor Walker hitting a run-a-ball 54 not out, aided by No 11 James Broadbent (23), then a score of 70-9 would not have improved to 147 all out.

Tom Lamb (7-1-13-4) did the early damage for Low Moor.

In the Premier Division, Booth put the usually effective bowlers of Thornton to the sword in their trip to Broad Fold Park.

Steven Senior (162 not out), batting undefeated for 45 overs, was accompanied in succession by Robert Laycock (64) and Richard Laycock (66) in partnerships of 142 and 98 runs respectively, as the home team amassed 338-5.

The Bradford’s team response got off to poor start at 14-2 but gained momentum courtesy of Josh Hutchinson (111), Michael Shanks (53) and Greg Soames (44). However the last few overs saw Shanks lose four partners in quick succession and, when he was last out, Thornton had fallen 43 runs short.

In a match reduced by four overs there was a tight finish at Shelf Northowram HT as Oxenhope failed by five runs to chase down the home team’s 192-3.

Keir Litjens (90) was the star of the first innings, ably assisted by Daniel Cole (47) as they put on 105 runs for the first wicket.

At 108-8 Oxenhope’s reply looked doomed but No 7 Joseph Ousey had other ideas and set about the Hedge Top bowling with a vengeance, hitting 72 not out in 52 balls.

Unfortunately he and No 10 Liam Dyson (15 not out), after sharing 80 runs, ran out of overs with the finishing line in sight. Jack Hemblys starred for Shelf with 5-57.

In Division One, Amaar Syed (84) and Chris Brown (72) got the Great Horton PC innings off to a flier at Southowram as they shared in a 168-run opening partnership.

The hosts however managed to slow the run rate in the last 15 overs as the visitors closed on 222-6.

That target proved 51 runs too many for the Rams, despite an excellent 68 from Tariq Mahmood. When Horton skipper Adam Beesley took the ball, as third change, that signalled the end of the contest when he recorded 6-28.

Clayton moved into second spot with victory in less than 50 overs at Upper Hopton. The home team could only manage 70 all out in 32.3 as the Bradford side closed within two points of inactive leaders Blackley, knocking off the runs required at 73-3 in 15.3 overs.

Back in Division Two, Old Town despatched Cullingworth by six wickets in a match where the visitors simply could not get their batting going.

They occupied the crease for 33.3 overs and yet only scored 65 all out. The wickets were shared by four bowlers with both Jahinger Khan (3-22) and Ali Asghar (3-23) miserly in their 14 overs apiece.

Town took just 18 overs in wrapping up the maximum points to remain well in the promotion battle in third place.