Mark Gilliver's bid to reach 1,000 runs in a season for the first time met with disappointment, but the Under-cliffe skipper was consoled by the fact his side maintained their 11-point lead in the table.

Gilliver, who needed 71 runs to reach the milestone, was dismissed for nine as his side defeated Manningham Mills by eight wickets.

But with seven matches to go and 938 runs to his name so far, it is likely he will go well past the 1,000 mark before the end of the season.

With Gilliver taking a back seat, former Yorkshire off-spinner Jeremy Batty stole the limelight. He took five for 41 and, backed by Mark Chapman (5-31), dismissed Mills for 133.

Batty followed up by making an unbeaten 52 as he joined forces with Toby Drummond (51 not out) to steer Undercliffe to their 12th win.

Second-placed Spen Victoria returned to winning ways, but not before a few scares against Great Horton.

Once again they had to rely heavily on their Australian star Grant Lambert as they once more got into a tangle.

Lambert took his aggregate for the season to 1,204 as he made 77 and he gained support from Adam Larkin (57 not out) after Spen had slipped to 78 for four in reply to Great Horton's 185 for eight.

Great Horton's score was boosted by the batting of Tony Hamer (56) and the late hitting of Dave Maloney (38 not out).

Third-placed Gomersal crushed Lightcliffe by seven wickets and are well placed to go through their first season in the league unbeaten and clinch promotion to the top flight.

Experienced opener Simon Horkin (76) and Craig Field (53) attacked vigorously as Gomersal raced past Light-cliffe's challenging total of 198 with five balls to spare.

Horkin's innings contained a six and 14 fours, and he shared a stand of 144 for the second wicket with Field.

Lightcliffe had earlier recovered from 53 for five thanks to Shaun Humphreys, who made a superb 78.

Esholt climbed to fourth after a three-wicket win against Salts. Ajantha Weera-ppuli was their hero, making 83 not out as they passed Salts' 151.

Salts had been restricted by the bowling of Matthew Birkby (4-27) and Andrew Luxton (3-47).

Justin Ferguson's unbeaten 107 in Keighley's 219 for one was all in vain as his side's match with Saltaire was abandoned because of rain when the visitors were 94 for three in reply after 36.2 overs.

Ferguson, who has been having a fine season, was joined in an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 147 by Steve Reape, who made 55 not out.

Idle's Graham Dobson (61) and Craig Hunt (57 not out) were in good form as their side made 224 for six against Bowling Old Lane, and they secured a winning draw.

Old Lane struggled in reply once they lost Mohammed Shaffiq for 33.

Morley plunged to their 17th defeat of the season when they went down by 87 runs at Hartshead Moor.

Morley once again saw their chance of success drift away as Hartshead Moor's seventh-wicket pair of Mike Kelly (52) and Tony Kellett (51) rescued their side with a stand of 99 after they had tumbled to 76 for six.

The fragile Morley batting again crumbled as Robin Hill (4-30) and Andy Measey (3-27) dismissed them for 101.