Birstall, with their top order in fine form, are again among the early front- runners in the Solly Sports Central Yorkshire League Premier Division.

An emphatic nine-wicket win over Townville at Leeds Road helped them close the gap on new leaders Mirfield Parish Cavaliers and clearly demonstrated their championship potential.

Against Townville, skipper Danny Busfield (3-40) and former Hanging Heaton paceman John Carruthers (3-54) reduced the opposition to 181 for seven, and it was a target Birstall never looked like missing.

Paul Marlow (41) and Connor Williams (61 not out) put on 88 for the first wicket, then Vikram Rathour saw them safely home with an unbeaten 65.

Mirfield Parish took advantage of Townville's demise to move into top spot with an eight-wicket win at Scholes.

Despite a useful 50 from Louis Aspeling, Scholes were out for 141, Neil Parkinson taking seven for 55, and Parish eased home by eight wickets thanks to an unbeaten 77 from Ibrahim Latif.

Liversedge skipper Simon Purdy is having another great season with the ball but his seven for 58 return was in vain at Batley, where the home side, defending a total of 151, bowled out Purdy's men for just 60.

New Farnley maintained their bright start to the season with a three-wicket win at Wakefield City and owed much to Peter Petricola (5-43) and Will Smith (48 not out).