LOCAL CRICKET: Farsley all-rounder Joss Overend frustrated Baildon after the Bradford League First Division leaders looked to be on course for a comfortable victory.

Baildon seemed to be assured of six points when they reduced third placed Farsley to 68 for eight chasing 189 for six with 20 overs left.

However Overend, who has been dogged by injury this season and is still not fit to bowl, denied them victory by batting the remainder of the overs for 12 not out and received good support from Sam Clulow and Tony Gilks as Farsley finished on 89 for nine, exactly 100 runs adrift.

Baildon still had the satisfaction of taking four points from the drawn match which means they are now eight points ahead of Farsley.

Second placed Bradford & Bingley also had to settle for a four point draw at Pudsey St Lawrence after totalling 283 for four thanks to an opening stand of 201 in 36 overs between Gareth Batty and Martin South. Batty hit two sixes and 13 fours in his 103 while South had one six and 15 fours in his 90.

Bingley looked set to win when they reduced Pudsey to 48 for four, but skipper Chris Gott and Bob Chadwick batted out the remaining 34 overs as Pudsey finished on 111 for four.

Most exciting match in the league was the tie between Yorkshire Bank and Pudsey Congs at Moortown.

Opener Mike Smith scored 79 out of Bank's 202 for seven. Colin Chapman (65) and Chris Simpson (52no) led Congs' reply, but both sides had to settle for three points after Richard Allinson was run out off the last ball as he went for the winning run.

Bowling Old Lane revived their chances of avoiding relegation with a 45-run win over Hanging Heaton. Old Lane's 160 for nine was dominated by a fine unbeaten 102 by New Zealander Neil Parlane.

A high scoring match between Windhill and next to the bottom Lightcliffe ended in a four point draw for Windhill who had Darren Blenkiron making 83 and Amol Muzumdar, 75.

Bottom club Saltaire are on the verge of relegation after going down to their 15th defeat of the season at home to Undercliffe.

The visitors' top scorer was wicketkeeper Chris Burns with 78 not out while skipper Russell Heritage turned in a fine all-round performance with 54 not out and five for 24 as Saltaire were bowled out for 110 in reply to Undercliffe's 246 for five.

Skipper Andrew Bethel with 98 not out led Spen Victoria to a five wicket win over East Bierley with three balls to spare.

The top three clubs in the Second Division - Cleckheaton, Brighouse and Drighlington - all won. The significant result was third placed Drighlington's seven wicket win at promotion rivals Bankfoot who began the day only one point behind them. Idle who were level with Drighlington are two points behind after a four point draw at home to Morley.

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