CRICKET: Wickersley gears Up for top-of-the-table clash against Cawthorne in Championship Division showdown

Trailing their hosts by 16 points, the Northfield Laners’ lingering title chances will be all but over should they lose while a victory would tighten their hold on the second promotion spot back to the top flight and keep chasers at bay.

After being put in to bat, Wickersley made 263, Vishvaraj Jadeja stroking 101 and Subhaan Hussain 59 while Kazim Hassan took 4-61.

Gareth Davies (53) and Joe Norbury (49) put on 132 for Church’s first wicket but there wasn’t enough back-up, the last seven wickets falling for 46 as the visitors ended 27 short. Iftikhar Afzal and Jadeja took four scalps each.

Conisbrough and Wath were edged nearer the relegation precipice by defeats.

Bottom side Conisbrough were 107 in reply to Cawthorne’s 257-5 while Wath were all out for 169 after Doncaster Town 2nds opened with 194-8. Better news for Wath B, who sit second in Division Three after bowling out Cawthorne B for 121 at Moor Road, Stephen Johnson taking 4-25. Wath knocked them off for the loss of seven wickets, Kelham Bennett making 38 not out.

In Division Four, relegation threatened Upper Haugh B bowled out Barnsley C for 153 before Steve Reynolds hit  53 in a four-wicket win. Whiston PC B’s 153-9 was overhauled by Wombwell B for the loss of six wickets.