Golcar grab victory to avoid relegation

Will Hinchliffe, Craig Ruscoe, Steve Whitwam and Upul Bandara shared the wickets as Armitage Bridge were bowled out for 128.

That score was revised to 81 and Golcar raced to victory in 13.4 to secure survival, Abdul Wahid hitting 26 not out, Whitwam 34 and Bandara 13 not out.

Those six points condemned Skelmanthorpe, who were unable to finish their home clash with Thongsbridge, who totalled 189 at Lidgett Lane, Ben Raven-Hill top-scoring on 45.

The home side had reached 38-1 in reply, with Michael Kitson on 29 not out, when the match had to be abandoned.

There was a tie in the rain-rule fixture between Cawthorne and Moorlands in Mirfield. ......................................................... Hoylandswaine ...................... Delph & Dobcross ................ Shepley ....................................... Moorlands ................................. Broad Oak ................................. Honley ......................................... Scholes ....................................... Cawthorne ................................ Kirkburton ................................ Thongsbridge ......................... Armitage Bridge ................... Golcar .......................................... Skelmanthorpe ...................... Barkisland ................................. GARY Ballance is hoping Yorkshire can make full use of fortress Headingley as they bid for an upturn in their Specsavers County Championship fortunes.

Yorkshire return to action after a two-and-a-half week break today when they host champions Middlesex in the first of four remaining games this season.

Both sides find themselves at the wrong end of Division One heading into the final stretch.

Middlesex are sixth with only two wins from 10 and have 106 points, while Yorkshire are seventh with three wins from 10 and have 103.

Ballance’s side sit one place and 23 points above secondbottom Somerset.

It is not quite panic stations just yet, but it likely will be if they don’t pick up a win in the next couple of games.

Thankfully, Yorkshire begin the run-in at Headingley, where they have only lost three Championship matches since the start of 2012, including this season’s opener against Hampshire.

“We’ve obviously played some very good cricket for the last few years at Headingley,” said captain Ballance. “We’re looking forward to it.

“Our bowling attack suits conditions there, and the guys have scored runs there.

”It’s good to know that two of the last four games (Warwickshire also visit) are at Headingley. Hopefully we can put some good performances in”