Woodlands are favourites to be promoted in their first season in the Bradford League after an easy 148-run win over main rivals Bankfoot in the crucial match of the year in the Bowes Section.

Only two points separated the teams at the start, but Woodlands were dominant, thanks mainly to another superb performance from the division's leading bowler Sarfraz Ahmed.

He ripped through Bankfoot's batting, taking eight for 33 in 12.3 overs as the visitors were bowled out for a mere 73 in reply to Woodlands' 221 for eight.

Unbeaten Woodlands are now eight points in front, and it is difficult to see them letting that lead slip.

The best partnership of their innings was a fourth-wicket stand of 69 between top-scorer Adam Goldthorpe (57) and Murphy Walwyn (47), building on useful contributions from openers Russell Murray (23) and Nicky Rushworth (30).

Bankfoot were never in the hunt as they lost wickets regularly and were bowled out in 24.3 overs.

Idle's outside promotion hopes suffered a blow in a rain-affected match at Saltaire.

The home side declared at 122 for nine after 31 overs, and Idle were on course for victory at 64 for two. However, they lost their next seven wickets for 31 runs in a dramatic collapse after spinner Ijaz Khan was introduced to the attack.

He took six for 24 in 14 overs and Idle were left hanging on for a point at 94 for nine.

There is an exciting promotion battle developing in the Verity Section where top two Lightcliffe and Mirfield both have 68 points, with Salts only five points behind.

Mirfield moved level with Lightcliffe after a comfortable 85-run win at Manningham Mills. Richard Griffiths (55) and opener David Jackson (45) were the main contributors to Mirfield's 185. Then Mohammed Asif took seven for 38 to help bowl out Mills for 100.

Lightcliffe had to settle for a four-point draw at Hartshead Moor. They posted the top score of the day - 264 for three - thanks to a second-wicket partnership of 199 between 16-year-old Nick Whitehill (121) and opener Michael Brooke (90).

Hartshead were in danger of defeat after losing four wickets for 73, but Robert Crookes (61 not out) and Lee Walker (63) guided them to safety with a fifth-wicket stand of 115 as they finished on 202 for five.

Salts kept the pressure on with a two-wicket win at Bowling Old Lane. Arnu Misra top scored with 54 as Old Lane made 188. Salts were in trouble at 106 for seven, but an eighth-wicket stand of 82 between Ben Hyman (48) and Chris Williams (32 not out) enabled them to level the scores before Hyman was run out, but Salts won with eight balls to spare.

Esholt won at Verity bottom club Windhill by three wickets, thanks to a match-winning innings of 108 not out by Kevin Dewhirst as they successfully chased 200 for five. Earlier, Amjid Hussain (66) and Ajmal Shahzad (61) had given Windhill a great start with a first-wicket stand of 124.

Morley won at Drighlington by 78 runs after the home side lost six wickets for 42.