Hallam falter at top

Has the Hallam bubble burst? The long-time Premier Division leaders, seven points clear at the top, made the trip to Wickersley for the first stage of their tough four-match finishing stretch against the strongest sides in the section – and fell at the first hurdle, crashing to a nine-wicket defeat against the former champions.

The Sandygate men fell for 103, destroyed by Shahid Hussain, 5-29, and Mohammed Zahid, 3-47, Wickersley cruising to victory with an unbeaten 71 from Haider Jahangir, who was taking his tally from his last four innings to 379, only dismissed twice.

Elsecar took full advantaage of Hallam's loss, whipping out Barnsley for 120,

Lesroy Weekes grabbing 6-30, then Jason Meadows, 58 no, and Brett Hunsley , 41 no, steered the Armroyd Laners to a nine-wicket victory and now level on points with Hallam.

Treeton kept themselves in contention when beating Doncaster Town by ten wickets,

the remarkable Steve Foster following a three-wicket stint with an unbeaten knock of 99, supported by Andy Tomlinson's 39 no which helped take Treeton to 142 without loss.

But Whitley Hall suffered a shattering blow to their title hopes when losing by nine runs to Shiregreen who produced their best batting display of the season, 193 (Aslam Hyat 54 and Hedar Rasool 41). Then Fida Mohammed 4-33 and Iftikhar Afzal 4-44 caused Whitley to fall nine short.

Wath's James Barnard had the honour of being top batsman of the day, his superb unbeaten 134 carrying the Moor Road club to 251-4. Visitors Rockingham were dismissed for 116.

Norton Oakes were put further into trouble at the bottom by Collegiate. Riaz Richards top-scored with 57 in Collegiate's 190, Oakes cut down for 97, Mark Langley and Alex Wylie four wickets each.

Darfield, home and dry as Division One champions, shot out Thorncliffe for 68, Paul Wilkinson 6-33, while in Division Two, Wickersley seconds completed a club double, Graham Cooke hammering 121 no in the win at Bradfield, and in the Rotherham derby in the same section, Rotherham Town dismissed Phoenix for 138, Mike McArdle 7-46, and eased to a 10-wicket win, John Allan 71 and Nick Brier 61, both unbeaten.