Comeback king Paul Blakeley is at it again.

The Birstall all-rounder has had a tremendous career in league cricket and he has been determined to take a step back on several occasions but, despite this, he was once again in the thick of it for the Leeds Road side at Liversedge in the Solly Sports Central Yorkshire League.

Having taken two for 29 in 11 overs to restrict the Liversedge scoring early on before Paul Marlow's four for seven in 11.1 overs helped remove the last six batsman for the addition of just 15 runs, Blakeley stepped in to rescue his side with the bat.

Chasing a decidedly modest total of 87, Birstall slimped to 22 for five before one time Minor Counties man Blakeley joined former Surrey, Essex and Northants spinner Richard Pearson (18) to add 45 priceless runs.

There was still much to do but with Matt Butler standing his ground well, Blakeley hit a match- best 31 not out to steer his side home with four wickets to spare.

Having finished in fourth place in the Premier Division last season, Birstall would clearly like to break the top-three stranglehold of Townville, Wrenthorpe and Methley.

But with champions Townville 58-run winners at Scholes and Wrenthorpe triumphing by three wickets at Ossett, it is former Bradford Central League side Northowram Fields who are currently in third after a 58-run win at Batley.

Rob Larner (43) top-scored as Northowram posted a total of 168 for seven, and though Tariq Patel hit an unbeaten 40 late in the Batley innings, they were bowled out for 110 after some fine bowling from Gary Rodger (4-14) and Matthew Rushforth (3-41).

A century for Mark Boycott (101 not out) gave Buttershaw St Paul's an uphill battle in Division One as the Bradford side set about overhauling a Wakefield St Michael's total of 211 for four.

But Buttershaw hit back from 70 for five to secure a four-wicket win - despite a five for 67 return from David Battye - thanks to Mark Wilson (70), Ian Carradice (40 not out) and Chris Kellett (38 not out).

Tim Shackleton (21) and Mark Kidd (24) got Westwood Park off to a steady start in the Division Two game at home to Adwalton but Chris Priestley (5-15) and Mark Sales (5-43) bowled the visitors back in, dismissaing Westwood for 100, and a top-scoring 39 from Adam Foreman helped the visitors to a five-wicket victory.