The first tie of the SDS Bradford League centenary season came at Morley where Lightcliffe were the visitors in the Second Division on Saturday.

The home side, who scampered a bye off the final ball of their innings, made 172 for nine batting first, and it was a case of 'well done good lad' as their top scorer was Gavin Goodlad with 48.

Opener Adam Larkin made 43, with Lee Smith (4-47) and James Horne (3-49) the most successful Lightcliffe bowlers, but Richard Tesseyman (13-4-26-0) was the meanest.

Lightcliffe replied with 172 for seven, but all their first five batsmen got a start, Michael Brooke (38) and Robert Crookes (29) sharing a first-wicket stand of 66, and being followed by Jonathan Wilson (26), Smith (23) and Shaun Humphreys (26).

Paul Kinder (5-65) kept pegging Lightcliffe back, but the three points they gained were enough to keep them at the top of the table.

However, things are very congested with only two points separating them and Bradford and Bingley, who are fourth. Morley are third on 21 and saltaire have climbed to joint top after consigning Brighouse to their third defeat in five matches so far this season.

Brighouse only used three bowlers as the home team made 195 for eight, opener Wasim Munawar hitting 64 and Mansha Khan 33 in the lower order.

Richard Robinson took five for 81 from 20 overs, and then hit 50 in dominating an opening stand of 68 with Phil Carter (12).

But young Azar Chunara (17), who came in when that stand ended, was the only other player to reach double figures as Brighouse went from 68 for none to 108 all out, Robinson contributing almost 50 per cent of the total.

Ziarat Ashraf was the man they couldn't cope with, and he took seven for 27 off eight overs, but he received solid support from opening bowler Ijaz Khan, who was economy personfied in taking two for 16 off 14 overs.

Tony Pickersgill may have made his Bradford League debut in 1966 and bowl first change these days rather than opening the attack, but he showed every indication of being an astute signing by Esholt at the weekend.

He took eight for 34 at Great Horton, who were dismissed for 129, Esholt winning by five wickets as Viveck Mahajan (53) continued his fine form with the bat.

Bradford and Bingley were the most convincing winners of the day, triumphing by nine wickets at Drighlington as Kiwi Lance Shaw bagged seven for 61.

Imran Patel made 57 of their 120 all out, and the men from Wagon Lane only lost Amar Rashid (14) in passing the winning post, Carl Sharp (52 not out) and junior Gary Topp (31 not out) also doing the business. Manningham Mills also deserve great credit as they notched their first win of the season, and after facing a daunting total of 234 for nine at home to salts.

Kuram maqsood hit a superb 71 not out batting at No 8 for Salts, and he added 85 for the seventh wicket with Mohamed Maroof (34), opener Fawad Maqsood having earlier made 41.

Overseas player Shahid Khan took six for 97 for Mills, and he was there at the close on 25 not out when his side won by seven wickets with seven-and-a-half overs to spare. Shakil Patel had earlier made 83, and opener Amjid Hussain was a great sheet anchor with 79 not out.

Greg Colehan (5-35) was the most influential figure in bankfoot's six-wicket win at home to Windhill, for whom Tahir Mahmood made 51 out of 113, and Hartshead Moor were the day's other losers, collapsing to 99 all out against Bowling Old Lane. Moor had been 38 for none before Lane's three-pronged spearhead got to work.