BIRSTALL batsmen put a marker down that they could help the side to be genuine title contenders in the CYL Premier Division when they produced a fine display at Leeds Road on Saturday.
On a day when there was not many big scores in the whole of the CYL, Birstall managed to score 267 runs for the loss of only two wickets at home to New Farnley.
All four men who took strike contributed, starting with openers Connor Williams (41) a
nd Rob McFarlane (69) who put on 106 for the first wicket.
When they both fell to the bowling of Smith (2-60), the next two in took up the cause with Vikram Rathour notching a superb century and Paul Marlow giving solid support with 38 not out.
Rathour timed his knock just right to reach three figures near the end of the innings and he ended 103 not out as Birstall set a target in excess of five runs an over.
New Farnley had a mountain to climb, even more so when they were six wickets down for 75 against a Birstall bowling attack full of experience.
The visitors never looked like reaching the target, although they did put up some stiff resistance with the lower order and denied Birstall maximum points. With Sean Louw hitting 52, they clung on to finish on 172-9.
The home side tried six different bowlers with the pick of them being Paul Blakeley with 3-16 from 14 overs, skipper John Carruthers who took 4-36 and spinner Richard Pearson who claimed 2-38.
Three games into the new season Birstall are still unbeaten with 12 points, but stand in fourth place, six points behind leaders Wrenthorpe who made themselves title favourites when they beat arch rivals Townville on Saturday.
The full article contains 305 words and appears in Morley Advertiser newspaper.
