Birstall’s Paul Marlow turned in an outstanding all-round display in his side’s Central Yorkshire League derby clash with Liversedge at Leeds Road to boost their Premier Division survival hopes.

Paul Blakeley, with 3-21 off 15 overs, and Zafar Khan (3-31) were the main wicket-takers but Marlow’s 2-10 helped reduce the visitors to 89 all out, which included a 21-run last-wicket stand, before holding the Birstall innings together with a match-best 41 to secure a two-wicket win.

Marlow, batting at four, came in with the score on 13-2 and was eighth out with just three runs needed for victory, having become the only player to pass 20 on a wicket that was clearly not for making runs.

Skipper Simon Purdy (2-42) opened the bowling with Simon Kay (3-23) and they bowled 15 overs apiece. But in the end, the determination of Marlow – a one-time Liversedge player – secured the win and lifted his side into eighth place, 11 points clear of Sedge and Ossett in joint-bottom spot.

Wrenthorpe are now 14 points clear of Methley at the top after crushing Northowram (55 all out) by 170 runs, while in Division One, Mirfield Parish Cavaliers remain in the promotion hunt after a 56-run win at Moorlands.

Buttershaw St Paul’s produced one of their best performances of the season when they overcame long-time leaders Hunslet Nelson by seven runs as Naveed Bhatti (56) and Paul Carroll (4-36) excelled.

That win lifted the Bradford side into fifth place but there is still a 17-point deficit to make up on Mirfield Parish.