Saturday, August 28

Full scorecards League Tables Second team review 

Division One

East Bierley are the new leaders after an eventful day which saw two of the title contenders, Bradford & Bingley and Woodlands suffer defeats.

Pudsey Congs moved level on points with Pudsey St Lawrence who were without a game.

Just 14 points cover the top five clubs but East Bierley have played a game more than all of their rivals and will almost certainly lose the leadership next Saturday when they are without a game.

The shock of the day came at Yeadon where the home side scored a three-wicket win over Bradford & Bingley - a result that keeps alive their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Bradford & Bingley were dismissed for just 98 as the wily Damon Gormley took 4-18 in bowler-friendly conditions. Only skipper Phil Slater (29) looked likely to break the domination of the bowlers,

Yeadon were also made to struggle as off spinner Matthew Cockshott took 3-24, but they edged home with Shabhan Raheem (25no) and skipper Grant Soames (19no) steadying their side's nerves after they slipped to 57-7.

Woodlands, who started the day in second place, dropped to fifth after being sent crashing to defeat by Cleckeaton's spinners at Moorend. Mark Cummins (5-20), Ammar Mahmood (2-21) and Edward Walmsley (2-17) exploited a wearing pitch to dismiss Woodlands for 86.

Cleckheaton, who made a slow start to their innings, were indebted to Mahmood (66) and skipper John Wood (39) for lifting the tempo and helping them to a total of 189.

Cleckheaton lost their last five wickets for 24 runs and were clearly encouraged by the success of their former player Chris Brice who took 5-65 with his left-arm spin.

East Bierley leapt from fourth to first on the strength of their crushing 174-run win over Bankfoot. Andrew Rennison (133) and Lee Goddard (107no) flayed the Bankfoot attack in a third-wicket stand of 237 which enabled East Bierley to declare after 39 overs with 296-3 on the board. Rennison struck four sixes and 18 fours, while Goddard stroked three sixes and 13 fours.

Although East Bierley gave themselves and extra 11 overs in which to dismiss Bankfoot, they didn't need them. Bankfoot were bowled out for 122 in 37 overs with in-form paceman Muhammad Azharullah taking 6-25.

Pudsey Congs are just three points behind the leaders after defeating Farsley by 115 runs. Eugene Burzler (86) and former Farsley man Gareth Phillips (62) provided the impetus for Congs to post a challenging 310-6.

Farsley's reply of 195 was dominated by their Jamaican batsman Lorenzo Inghram. He made 105 on the eve of his team's appearance in the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final. He struck three sixes and 12 fours. Burzler completed a fine individual performance by taking 4-68 while Alex Hewitt took 3-55.

Saltaire's relegation to Division Two was confirmed when they suffered a 77-run defeat against Baildon. Skipper Ijaz Khan took 5-43 in the Baildon innings, but Tom Smallwood (52no) and Ian Philliskirk (50) ensured Baildon got maximum batting points as they made 225-7.

Saltaire, despite the efforts of Waleed Akhtar (42) and Tim Jackson (38) were restricted to 148-9 as spinner Mushtaq Ahmed (3-32) and Philliskirk (3-35) posed problems.

Undercliffe's season continues to fizzle out. After topping the table at the start of July they have faded badly and suffered another defeat as they went down by six wickets at Gomersal.

Gomersal opener Richard Gould maintained his fine run of form by making 81 to spearhead the successful pursuit of Undercliffe's total of 215-7. Greg Pickles (52) and Phil Carter (37) gave him good support.

Undercliffe total of 215-7 owed much to the efforts of Farakh Hussain (53), Nawaz Sardar (41) and Ashley Metcalfe (31). The pick of the Gomersal bowlers was Shahzaib Khan (3-53).

Division Two

The battle for the second promotion place is set for a thrilling climax on the final day of the Division Two season next Saturday.

Manningham Mills (272), Lightcliffe (272) and Bowling Old Lane (269) are separated by just three points in the table.

Lightcliffe, who have been for so long the favourites to join champions Hanging Heaton in the top flight next season, dropped to third place after suffering a 65 run defeat against Old Lane.

Old Lane's experienced opening bowler Zubair Najeeb took 6-21 as Lightcliffe were shot out for 65 in reply to a modest Bowling Old Lane score of 130.

Abid Alishan top scored with 48 for Old lane while Sadaqat Zaman (3-28) and, Umar Salim (3-6) were Lightcliffe's best bowlers,

Manningham Mills went ahead of Lightcliffe by virtue of having won one more game after defeating Hartshead Moor by 111 runs.

All-rounder Iqbal Khan had a memorable match. He made the top score of 67 as Mills made 176, and followed up by taking 7-40 as Hartshead Moor were bowled out for 65.

Next Saturday's fixtures see Lightcliffe visiting neighbours Brighouse, Manningham Mills at home to Keighley, and Old Lane facing a trip to Hanging Heaton.

Imran Dawood made a fine 103 as Hanging Heaton piled up 299-7 on their way to a 115-run win over Morley. Dawood struck six sixes and ten fours, while Nick Bresnan hammered six sixes in a rapid 68. Haroon Rashid (59) also made the Morley bowlers suffer.

Morley's reply of 184-9 was dominated by Adam Larkin. he made 90 while skipper John Carruthers (5-41) was the best of the Hanging Heaton bowlers.

Brighouse won a high-scoring match at Windhill by nine runs, Skipper Paul Cummins (91), Hans Randawa (68) and Chris Dyer (39) helped Brighouse to a score of 273-7. Windhill replied with 164-8, just falling short of their target after good knocks form Ahsan Butt (80), Aayaz Akram (78) and Umar Abbass (47).

Great Horton have been confirmed as this year's wooden spoonists after losing the basement battle with Idle by seven wickets. Luke Heinemann made an unbeaten 77 to guide Idle past Great Horton's score of 166, Nabeel Nawaz (51) and Talish Butt (32) were Great Horton's top scorers.