Woodlands Increase Their Lead

Woodlands Increase Their Lead

Reigning champions Woodlands increased their lead at the top of the First Division on the day the bottom three clubs won.

After suffering their first defeat of the season at home to Lightcliffe the week before, Woodlands returned to winning ways but they were pressed all the way against Priestley Cup finalists Manningham Mills at Scotchman Road.

They bowled out Mills for 131 with overseas player Sarfraz Ahmed taking 5-34 and Pieter Swanepoel 4-42, but they found themselves in trouble after sliding to 64-6 before Sarfraz came to their rescue, guiding them to a two wicket victory with a disciplined innings of 38 not out.

Gulsheraz Ahmed (35) and Aeezaz Dar (34 not out) were Mills’ top scorers while Woodlands opener Scott Richardson made 38.

Woodlands hold a 45 run lead over Cleckheaton, who leapfrogged East Bierley into second place after their ten wicket win at Bierley.

Pudsey Congs moved up two places to fifth from the bottom after an unexpectedly comfortable 109-run home win over St Lawrence in the Pudsey derby.

Consistent opener Nick Lindley top scored with 52 while Barbar Butt made 39, Gareth Phillips 36 and Richie Lamb 35 not out as Congs totalled 216-7 before bowling out their normally high scoring neighbours for a mere 107 to leave themselves 22 points clear of the relegation places, skipper, left arm spinner Glenn Roberts taking 5-23 and Basil Akram 3-21.

Undercliffe moved off the bottom of the table after gaining 20 points from their nine-run win at Saltaire. Former Yorkshire batsman Callum Geldart top scored with 68 while former Saltaire all-rounder Yassir Abbas made 56 not out as Undercliffe totalled 226-6.

Saltaire made a bold effort chase down their target led by opener Farhan Khan and Fahid Rehman, who both made 55 before former Undercliffe overseas player Nawaz Sardar kept up the momentum to leave the home side with a chance of victory going into the final two overs.

Then, Sardar was caught on the boundary edge in the penultimate over for 61 and Javed Iqbal was dismissed in the final over as Undercliffe made sure of victory.

Farsley are now bottom despite their four wicket win at Lightcliffe. Former Yorkshire batsman Chris Taylor (73) and Alex Stead (54) were top scorers as Lightcliffe made 193-8 before skipper Philliskirk led Farsley to victory with 91, including five sixes and six fours.

Yorkshire pace bowler Iain Wardlaw produced a devestating spell, taking 7-38 as Cleckhe4aton shot out second placed East Bierley for a paltry 80 to set up a ten wicket wicket win. Cleckheaton knokced off the runs needed for victory in 9.5 overs with Mall Nicholson scoring 47 not out.

Pace bowler Matthew Simpson produced his best figures for Bradford & Bingley, taking 6-58 in their 78-run home win over Hanging Heaton. At one stage the visitors were reduced to 30-6 in reply to Bingley’s total of 231, but Nick Bresnan earned them two batting points with an unbeaten 86, including two sixes and 15 fours before they were bowled out for 153. Top scorers for Bingley were Chris Thompson (86) and skipper Phil Slater (57), Leg spinner Mark Lawson, who has taken over as captain from John Carruthers, took 5-56 for Hanging Heaton.