Posted: August 26, 2006

Skipper Tim Orrell led from the front as Woodlands moved another step closer to retaining their Division One title with a four-wicket win at Farsley.

Orrell steadied his side's nerves after they had slipped to 53 for four in reply to Farsley's score of 194 for four. Orrell made 70 and with support from the wily Murphy Walwyn (33) turned the game his side's way.

Farsley put up a good fight and nobody did more for their cause than opening batsman Steve Simpson. He made an unbeaten 111 with four sixes and 11 fours, while the promising Ibraar Qadoos made 56.

Woodlands collected just 14pts for their win and that enabled both Pudsey Congs and Pudsey St Lawrence to make up a little ground. Congs took 16 points from a six-wicket win over rock-bottom Keighley, while St Lawrence gained a maximum 20 for a 128-run win over Bradford & Bingley.

It is unlikely that Woodlands will be unduly worried because they still have a healthy 26 point lead over Congs with St Lawrence a further three points back with just four matches to play.

Left arm opening bowler Neil Gill took six for 38 as Congs dismissed Keighley for 158. Skipper Steve Reape top scored for Keighley with 60. Congs had little trouble reaching their victory target. Skipper Matthew Doidge (55no) and Scott Cunningham (50) hitting half-centuries.

St Lawrence opener had been bemoaning his lack of runs recently, but that all changed as he crafted an unbeaten 116 which enabled St Lawrence to build a match-winning score of 250 for seven. Stead hit one six and 14 fours, while James Smith continued his good form with a typically aggressive 54. Ethi Mbhalati was the pick of the Bradford & Bingley bowlers with four for 47.

Smith crowned a fine individual performance by taking five for 20 as Bradford & Bingley were dismissed for 122.

At the other end of the table Morley, like Keighley, appear doomed. Morley's disappointment at losing by eight-wickets to Baildon was compounded by the news that Cleckheaton had defeated Saltaire off the final ball of their match to clinch a four-wicket win which means Morley are now 29 points adrift of safety with time running out fast.

Morley suffered again for a poor batting display. Former skipper Colin Nuthall battled hard for his 55, but of the remaining batsmen only Shehzad Butt (38no) made an impression as Morley were dismissed for 151. Phil Slater was the best Baildon bowler with four for 28.

Baildon took just 19.5 overs to reach their victory target and there was a welcome half-century for young batsman Jonathan Reynolds who has been promoted from the second team. He made an unbeaten 54 and built on the good work of opener Simon Davies (48).

The win returns Baildon to fifth place in the table. They take over from Saltaire who lost that close-encounter with Cleckheaton. Saltaire looked to be in a good position when they made 249 for seven with Tabi Bhatti (72), Imran Arif (58no) and Safaaraz Mahomed (41) all caught the eye. Ian Wood's best bowling figures for the season of five for 59 were a timely boost for Cleckheaton.

When the home side replied they maintained a good rate of scoring with opener Adam patel (87) and Ian Nicholson (68) setting the tempo in a second-wicket stand of 130. When they departed Tom Pringle (25no) saw his side home to a four-wicket success.

Ryan Bradshaw (73no) and Grant Soames (69) shared in a fifth-wicket alliance of 117 as fourth-placed East Bierley overhauled Idle's score of 248 for five to secure a five-wicket win. Openers Paul Cummins (94) and Javed Umarji (55) had earlier shared a stand of 106 for Idle.

Brighouse's form has been unpredictable le of late and they suffered another setback when they lost by 32 runs to Hanging Heaton. Opener Chris Schofield top scored with 63 as Hanging Heaton made 165 all out and then Bandula Don took five for 40 as Brighouse were dismissed for 133.

Division Two leaders Bowling Old Lane need 12 points from their remaining two games to clinch promotion and 17 to lift the title after defeating neighbours Great Horton by 55 runs.

Wicketkeeper Imran Mirza made a timely 65 which enabled Old Lane to recover from 77 for four to post a testing total of 181 for seven on a pitch which assisted the bowlers.

When Great Horton replied they ran into trouble against the bowling of Amjid Khan (4-26) and Malik Aftab (3-17) and were dismissed for 126. The two batsmen who mastered the conditions best, Talish Butt (45) and Mohammed Sharafat (43no) are former Old Lane players.

The most thrilling game of the day was at Scotchman Road where second-placed Manningham Mills defeated Undercliffe by one-run off the final ball.

The win earned Mills 19 points and extends their advantage over Spen Victoria to five points. The man they have to thank for keeping a cool nerve is Hamed Younis. He had to bowl the last over with Undercliffe needing 12 to overhaul Mills' score of 255 for eight.

Ten runs came from the first five balls and with just two needed from the final delivery, Younis bowled Undercliffe skipper Craig Hunt who had bludgeoned 62.

Defeat was particularly hard on Undercliffe wicketkeeper John Barton. He was promoted to open to give his side a quick start and he responded with a career-best 127 with five sixes and 13 fours.

Barton looked like winning the game on his own until he holed out to give former Undercliffe bowler Gamaal Hussain won of his five victims which came at a personal cost of 69 runs.

Mills had owed their challenging total to half-centuries from opener Adil Islam (55), Muenoddin Kadri (53) and Amjid Hussain (51no).

Spen Victoria also had to overcome a few scares before defeating Bankfoot. At 16 for four Spen looked in deep trouble and the position worsened as they plunged to 51 for seven.

They were rescued by Steve James who hammered 12 boundaries in a knock of 66 which enabled Spen to reach 136 all out despite the great efforts of Nigel Hanson (6-39).

Bankfoot looked to be heading for victory when opener Michael Nicholson (45) and Simon Curry (28) shared a stand of 62, but once they were parted the innings collapsed. Bankfoot were dismissed for 125 with Chris Elstub taking four for 21, James Russell (3-30) and Chris Hester (3-41).

Bowlers were on top at lightcliffe too. Esholt were dismissed for 127 with James Soulsby (32) and Ben Lister (22no) the only men to make an impression as Aleem Ladak took four for 32 and Dean Heyhoe (3-30). Lightcliffe's batsmen endured an even tougher time. Nadeem Hanif claimed seven for 19 as they were dismissed for 63.

Lightcliffe now face a tough fight avoiding having to apply for re-election. Windhill are resigned to that fate once again after a 102-run defeat against Gomersal.

Adam Stott (126) and Malintha Thotiwilage (108) flayed the Windhill attack as Gomersal piled up a massive 337 for nine. To their credit, Windhill replied with 235 for right and earned themselves four batting bonus points. Avenish Aware made 64 and Leon Harber (42).

Leg-spinner Steve Lawrence took five for 35 as Yeadon bowled out Hartshead Moor for 167 to secure a 67-run win. Overseas batsman Shoaib Khan marked his return with 83 for Moor but it wasn't enough. Yeadon owed their score of 234 for six to the good work of James Todd (74) and Steve Cobley (72).