Fellows and Connolly train their sights on ailing Congs

Fellows smashed a season’s best 146, with Connolly not far behind with an unbeaten 123, his fourth league ton of an outstanding campaign, in a monster stand worth 268. The efforts of Fellows and Connolly, now up to 953 league runs in a dream 2017, took Heaton to an awesome 291-1, with rock-bottom Congs then blown away in reply. Congs were skittled for just 57, with quickie Tom Chippendale (6-26) wreaking havoc, with spinner Muhammad Rameez taking 3-2. Second-placed Farsley had a much tougher time of it before edging home by two wickets against Lightcliffe (222-6) in a dramatic finale. Opener James Price (85) put the Red Laners in command in reply, before the intervention of Jonathan Whiteoak (4-66) turned the tide, but they held their nerve to end at 227-8. Farsley are 12 points behind Heaton. Meanwhile, third-placed Woodlands (138) saw their title hopes nosedive after a three-wicket loss at New Farnley (141-7), for whom Simon Lambert (78), James Middlebrook (4-29), Dave Cummings (3-11) impressed. At the bottom, Batley’s survival quest suffered a big blow after they were skittled for just 60 in an eight-wicket reverse to Bradford & Bingley. Chief thorn was Jack Hartley, who took 6-35. Wicketkeeper Charlie Best recorded his maiden league ton for champions Pudsey St Lawrence (259-5), who held sway against relegation-threatened Cleckheaton (205). Best hit a six and 15 fours in his 101 and he put on 155 for the second wicket with Adam Waite (63), who took his season’s league runs tally to 801. Chris Marsden also hammered a quick-fire 63 not out. Mally Nicholson (68) caught the eye for Cleck, but they fell short, Marsden taking 4-50. Struggling East Bierley (165) went down by four wickets to fourth-placed Townville (167-6), whose best were Connor Harvey (4-70 and 52) and Jack Hughes (4-33).