Esholt paceman Ben Lister produced the best bowling performance of the season on the day when Undercliffe were confirmed as the new Division Two champions.

Lister claimed the first nine Manningham Mills wickets to fall at a cost of 29 runs as his side kept alive their hopes of promotion to the top flight with a four-wicket win on Saturday.

Lister was only denied the chance of all ten when leg spinner Andrew Luxton claimed the last wicket to fall as Manningham Mills were dismissed for 88.

The Esholt bowler bettered the previous best of eight for 35 which had been set less than an hour earlier by Undercliffe seamer Mark Saliacus.

The Australian had clean bowled all his victims as bottom team Morley were shot out for 64. His haul included a hat-trick and a further two wickets in two balls.

Undercliffe cruised to a seven wicket win and learned that they had been crowned champions when Spen Victoria had been beaten by third-placed Gomersal.

Spen struggled on a tricky wicket to post a score of 136 for seven. Skipper Andy Walker top scored with 35 not out but his efforts were not enough to save his side. Gomersal edged home with seven balls to spare with Steve Harrison (35) and Matthew Garside (33) leading the way.

Spen also suffered the frustration yesterday of winning the only game to be completed in the division at Lightcliffe and learning it was only worth one point but are guaranteed promotion back to Division One.

Manningham Mills and Idle featured in the only other Sunday match where play was possible.

Idle, who are battling with Esholt for fourth place, were frustrated on Saturday. Ian Dewhirst hit a 30-ball half-century and Simon Curry made 53 as they piled up a daunting score of 232 for six against Salts.

Their opponents plunged to 66 for seven before Barry King revived Salts with an unbeaten 51 which enabled them to force a draw.

Bankfoot's Pakistani batsman Saleem Mughal became the third player to reach 1,000 runs this season when he stroked his way to an unbeaten 132 in the 28-run triumph over Saltaire.

Mughal took his tally to 1,033 with four sixes and 15 fours. He shared in a third-wicket partnership of 189 with Richard Peel who made a fine 60.

Faced with a total of 249 for three, Saltaire made a bold attempt to go for the runs. Boosted by an aggressive 83 from Mohammed Waseem, Saltaire made 221 before being bowled out. Simon Kay claimed five for 78 for Bankfoot.

Another overseas star in good form was Bowling Old Lane's Mohammed Shafiq. His unbeaten 95 took him past 900 for the season and enabled his side to secure a seven-wicket success against Keighley. Khalid Rehman had earlier taken five for 29 as Keighley made 177 for nine.