JUDE Roberts seems to be benefitting from a hard winter’s cricket in Australia.

The teenage left-arm spinner bowled magnificently in taking 3-15 from his 10 overs, as Undercliffe romped into the quarter-finals of the Priestley Cup at fellow Bradford Premier League Division One side Baildon’s expense.

“It was a good experience. I played with some better players, and it definitely made me a better player all-round,” admitted the 18-year-old after the easy eight-wicket win at Intake Road.

“I played for Perth Cricket Club in the Western Australian Cricket League, which is better than the Bradford League – probably the equivalent of county second teams.

“I learnt more about the white-ball game than the red, using my variations a lot more, and I played with some Big Bash players, such as John Wells of Melbourne Renegades and Sam Fanning of Western Australia.

“As for red-ball cricket, it was a challenge bowling on better wickets, and I probably bowled it a bit quicker on wickets that were flatter and bounced a bit more.

“I have been trialling with Leicestershire and playing Minor Counties for Northumberland, and we will see how that goes, but the ambition is to play county cricket.

“If that doesn’t work, I will probably go to university and study physiotherapy or sport and exercise therapy.”

Roberts then admitted: “I haven’t started the Bradford League season as well as I would have liked but hopefully I will come good.

“I haven’t bowled very economically, so it was good to bowl a few maidens here at 1.5 an over.”

Having dismissed Baildon for just 138, Roberts admitted: “We were pretty confident during the tea interval as it was a good track and 250 was probably par.”

Baildon won the toss and chose to bat but lost skipper Kevin McDermott, bowled by the third ball of the day after he had played and missed at Zeeshan Qasim’s first two deliveries.

James Ford and Will Kelly played attractively to add 43 before Ford was bowled by Abdullah Khan for 24, while Kelly followed one run later, lbw to Qasim.

Mehrban Khan and Joel Newlove then became the second and third batters to be dismissed for 24 as Roberts got into his groove, while Chris Reynolds fell to a blinding catch at short midwicket by Ben Morley off a Danish Hussain full toss.

A score of 84-3 became 101-8, including an unnecessary run-out, and it was only Umar Zahoor, who hit 29 at No.10, that enabled Baildon to add some late runs.

That total was never going to be enough, however, and Hussain and Morley tucked into some leg-side deliveries in an opening stand of 62 before Morley was dismissed for 31, flashing outside the off stump.

But that only brought keeper Kyle Welsh to the crease, and he added 59 with Hussain before the latter was out for 54, made off just 35 deliveries and containing eight fours and two sixes.

Welsh finished on 44 not out, made off 30 balls and including eight fours and a six.

Undercliffe aren’t the only Division One side into the last eight, however, as Morley surprised Premier Division Farsley at Scatcherd Lane with a 56-run win.

Pakistani all-rounder Ali Usman was the star of the show, scoring 110 and then taking 4-20, making it two big scalps in a row for Morley, following their first-round win over Pudsey St Lawrence.

Cleckheaton made it three second-tier sides through after defeating Yeadon by four wickets, with the experience of Mal Nicholson (47) and James Stansfield (46no) pivotal.

Meanwhile, Woodlands defeated Jer Lane by 113 runs at Albert Terrace, 24 hours after losing to them in the league at Park Avenue.

Also through are New Farnley, Methley, Townville and Bradford & Bingley.