OXENHOPE Firsts succumbed to defeat by 37 runs against Triangle in the Halifax Cricket League despite Joel Fothergill's fine bowling and a battling half-century from Lewis Hopkinson.

Fothergill delivered an accurate opening spell of seven overs, conceding just eight runs and taking three wickets. Scott Mallinson was on target with the ball too, as Triangle wickets tumbled and they were reduced to 117-7.

The opposition captain Christian Silkstone dug in and steadied the ship. Joined at the wicket by Chris Metcalf (53), Silkstone increased his scoring rate on the way to a superb knock of 86.

He became another victim for the returning Fothergill, who finished with figures of 5-58 as Triangle posted a very respectable total of 244, Mallinson taking 4-68.

Oxenhope were quickly three wickets down before in-form Hopkinson (51) and Joe Ousey (41) looked to be swinging the game back to the home side.

However, they were dismissed in successive balls and although the tail wagged bravely with Duncan Tetley (23) and Mallinson (18) offering hope, David Turner's 5-60 cleaned up the innings on 207.

They had more luck a day later though, progressing to the quarter finals of the Parish cup with a thumping 193-run win over Stones.

Eddie Burke (48) and Hopkinson (41) laid the platform for Oxenhope but the match-winning innings came from Ousey, who smashed his way to 114 with 13 fours and nine sixes, with his century coming in an astonishing 47 balls.

Tetley (44 not out) and Tom Marshall (18no) compounded Stones' misery as they put on a ninth wicket stand of 61 to help their side reach 348.

Stones battled hard, but were never in the hunt for victory. They were dismissed for 155, with Hopkinson the leading wicket taker with 3-39.

A weakened second side pulled off an excellent four-wicket win at Southowram, with Jonathan Holden starring with bat and ball.

The home side laboured to a total of just 206-3 in 45 overs. Martin Reppion (64) and Tariq Mahmood (72 not out) provided the bulk of the runs, but Holden kept it tight with 2-45 off his 17 overs.

Grahame Ellis (33) & Hamzah Khan (25) offered some hope after a bad start before Holden (37) joined Anas Tanveer at the wicket.

Tanveer bludgeoned his way to a match-winning 44no as he and Spencer Hurd (11no) saw the side home.