Birstall’s resurgence continued with a hard-earned three-wicket Premier Division win in their Central Yorkshire League game at Ossett that lifted them to second place behind Townville.

Joe Finnigan, who scored 79 out of 169-8 in just over two hours, effectively denied Birstall maximum points when he was the last man to be dismissed with only two balls remaining. But Birstall duly secured four points with an unbeaten 30 from the junior Nick Kaye.

James Byrne had got them off to a flier with 40 out of 49 for the first wicket but it was Eric Austin’s stability, hitting a top score of 45 in 30 overs, that proved the stumbling block for the home side.

Craig Wood (3-38) and Rob Mcfarlane (3-60) did the damage with the ball for Birstall.

Mirfield Parish went down by 43 runs at Methley but Batley had a fine seven-wicket win at Northowram as they overhauled the home side’s 185, skipper Rob Larner making 54, with eight overs to spare. Batley’s Muhammed Tahir carried his bat for 84.

Scholes, another side on the rise, went to the top of Division One with a three-wicket win at East Ardsley as they successfully saw off the threat of David and Ashley Battye, who took 4-25 off 15 overs and 3-21 off 11 respectively.

Luckless Mirfield remain bottom after a seven-wicket defeat at home to Liversedge as Alan Sumner’s patient 48 not out earned the six points that keeps his side in touch with the leading clubs.

Buttershaw St Paul’s picked up a welcome win as skipper Paul Carroll hit 52 out of his side’s 125-2, while Pritesh Mistry (4-57) and Paul Robinson (3-23) did the damage with the ball.

But there was no joy the following day for St Paul’s or Scholes as they both bowed out of the Jack Hampshire Cup with defeats at the hands of Carlton and Hunslet Nelson respectively.

Also idle on quarter-final day will be Hopton Mills, beaten by Wrenthorpe, and Ossett, who lost by 31 runs at Wakefield Thornes, although Northowram and Mirfield Parish are through by virtue of byes.

The key Premier Division game this coming weekend is at Leeds Road, where Birstall take on Townville in a top-two clash that could put Birstall in pole position.

In Division One, Scholes at home to Buttershaw St Paul’s and Liversedge hosting East Leeds look like promising entertainment.