Bradford & Bingley scramble to one-wicket victory in the heat

In the Premier Division, Bradford & Bingley scrambled a one-wicket win at Methley while James Wade hit the final ball of the match for four as Ossett defeated Jer Lane by three wickets.

And in Division Three, Scholes lost the leadership to Altofts after going down to defeat by one run against Gildersome & Farnley Hill. The individual highlights included a fourth century of the season for Gomersal’s Australian Fergus McKenna. He made 158 not out in their four-wicket win at Birstall in Division One to take his tally of league runs to 711.

On a day when the conditions favoured the batsmen, Tauseef Haider returned the impressive figures of 8-42 as Hopton Mills defeated Liversedge by 20 runs in Division Two.

Premier Division

Fourth place Bradford & Bingley had their last-wicket pair of Jack Luxton and Reece Cockshott to thank as thy defeated Methley by one-wicket in a match of fluctuating fortunes at Little Church Lane.

They added 16 runs to enable their side to pass the Methley total of 190. Such an outcome seemed unlikely when they collapsed to 29-4, but skipper Ed Brown (67) and Yasir Abbas (46) turned things around with a fifth wicket stand of 111.

The departure of both batters in quick succession led to a slump to 175-9, before Luxton and Cockshott saw them home. James Wainman took 3-50 for Methley who will have been disappointed not to have made more runs when batting first in perfect conditions. Yasir Ali top scored with 45 but his side found it difficult to break the shackles imposed on their scoring rate by the fine work of left arm spinner Bradley Reeve who was rewarded with figures of 5-30.

Bradley Reeve impressed as he returned figures of 5-30 (Image: Ray Spencer)

Jer Lane were involved in a last over finish for the fourth successive game but unlike the previous three occasions they found themselves on the wrong end of the result in another gripping encounter.

This time the outcome was determined on the final ball when James Wade, who came in after Adal Islam had dismissed Mubtada Akhtar with the previous delivery, struck it to the boundary to seal a three-wicket success.

On a day when last season’s leading run scorer Nick Connolly made a welcome return, it was Mattie Race who put Ossett in a position to overhaul the Jer Lane total of 195 with an innings of 53.

The match also got off to a dramatic start with Jer Lane losing their first three wickets with just two on the board. Hishaam Khan (45) and Israr Ullah (39) steadied the ship before skipper Raqeeb Younis weighed in with 59. The pick of the Ossett bowlers was Race with 3-67

Bankfoot put their recent batting woes behind them by making 252-8 but it was not enough to save them from a 42-run defeat against New Farnley. Skipper James Lee will be pleased that the eight points they earned from the game keep them out of the relegation positions.

Hamza Iqbal made 73 and Lee (45) as Bankfoot replies to a New Farnley total of 294-7. Steve Bullen made 74 ¬– his seventh half century of the season – while Aidan Langley (56), Lee Goddard (46) and Harry Killoran (46) all chipped in with valuable scores. Killoran later took 4-84 with his off spin.

Woodlands have a 31-point lead over both New Farnley and Townville after their 56-run win over bottom side Hanging Heaton. Half centuries from wicketkeeper Greg Finn (64no) and Sam Frankland (55) helped the champions to a score of 275-7. Nick Lindley took 3-65 with his left arm spin.

Overseas player Gagan Vats caught the eye again with 59 – his second fifty in successive game – while Bradley Wood made 49 as Hanging Heaton were bowled out for 219, Muhammad Bilal (4-57) and Kez Ahmed (3-65) were the pick of the Woodlands bowlers.

Skipper Jack Hughes scored 81 and took 3-55 as Townville overcame Pudsey St Lawrence by 26 runs. Conor Harvey (39) and Tom Brook (32) supported Hughes as the home side posted a score of 236-8 despite Josh Dracup taking 4-55.

Archie Scott (70) and Luke Patel (61) shared a third wicket stand of 109 for St Lawrence who finished on 210-8, Hughes was backed up by Aussie Austin Humphrey (3-61) as Townville sealed victory.

Farsley ended their losing run with a six-wicket win over Pudsey Congs who are second from bottom – seven points from safety.

Skipper Matthew Lumb (3-22) and spinner Harry Sullivan (3-38) helped Farsley bowl out their opponents for 129, Callum Oliver making 38. Yorkshire wicketkeeper Harry Duke was unbeaten on 42when Farsley sealed victory. Dan Revis (38) gave him support after Jamie Allen claimed 3-33.

Division One

Opener Waleed Akhtar made 119 as he helped steer leaders Cleckheaton to a seven-wicket victory at East Ardsley where they chased down a total of 272.

Akhtar hit 20 fours and was joined in a second wicket stand of 133 by overseas player Yousaf Baber (59) as the win was secured with 14 balls to spare.

Bottom side East Ardsley showed encouraging form with the bat. Josh Wild has been playing well recently and led the way with 94. Gary Jennings (44), Suraj Singh (43) and Ashley Pearson (33) provided useful middle order runs against the bowling of Iain Wardlaw (3-49) and James Stansfield (3-35). But ultimately their total of 272 proved insufficient to stave off defeat.

Undercliffe are second after a 40-run win over East Bierley, but they had to withstand a late assault from Umar Abbas. The former Hopton Mills player smashed 10 sixes and nine four while making and unbeaten 116 from 68 balls as his side were dismissed for 206, Jude Roberts taking 3-49.

Skipper Bailey Worcester (86) and Chris Gordon (42) were the main contributors to Undercliffe’s total of 246. Paceman Nisar Ahmad again impressed for East Bierley with 5-58.

Morley put a dent in third place Batley’s promotion hopes by defeating them by five wickets at Scatcherd Lane. Wicketkeeper Liam Thomas hit an unbeaten 64 as they cruised past the visitors’ score of 162.

Danyaal Hussain and Umar Farooq both made 41 for Batley but lacked support as Joe Finnigan (4-46) paved the way for Morley’s third successive league win.

There is just no stopping Gomersal’s Fergus McKenna. He struck 13 sixes and 13 fours while making 158 not out from 88 balls as he helped his side chase down Birstall’s 243-8 to win by four wickets.

Birstall’s total owed much to the efforts of captain Nick Kaye (92). Dominic Cleghorn (36no) and Andrew Robertson (32) provided useful support.

Fourth place Yeadon defeated Carlton by 65 runs to maintain their strong interest in the promotion race. Josh Watson (55), Adeel Ashraf (51) and Gareth Lee (30) helped Yeadon make 205-7 before dismissing their rivals for 140. Spinner Amir Hussain (5-35) and Istikhar Hussain (3-36) were the pick of the Yeadon bowlers while Farrukh Alam took 4-44 for Carlton.

Sandal hauled themselves out of the bottom two at the expense of Baildon who they defeated by three wicket. Michael Carroll (5-26) and Kasun Madushanka (3-23) helped bowl out the Jenny Lane side for 96, before Sohail Hussain (37no) steadied the home side’s nerves and saw them home after a defiant burst of 5-30 from Aussie Jamin Barron-Toop.

Division Two

Bowling Old Lane have taken over at the top of Division Two after defeating previous leaders Hartshead Moor by 119 runs at Birch Lane.

A second wicket alliance of 129 between Farhan Hussain (78) and Hisan Ahmad (65) helped Old lane post 258-7 despite Aussie Leo Manteit taking 4-80. Only Craig Field (44) made an impression as Hartshead Moor were bowled out for 139 with Ahsan Alishan taking 4-39.

Hopton Mills are now second after an outstanding performance from Tauseef Haider (8-42) enabled them to bowl out Liversedge for 159 to secure a 20-run win.

Quadratullah Azizi (4-46) and debut-making Mushtaq Ahmed (3-42) – who has more than 1,000 Bradford League wickets to his name – were the best of the Liversedge bowlers.

Lightcliffe continued their climb up the table with a 65-run win over Crossflatts. Their experienced opener Alex Stead set the tone for the victory by hitting a six and 12 fours while making 112. Yusuf Malik (52) provided good support in a total of 250-7. Azhar Mehmood (4-46) and Nadeem Safdar (3-47) were the best of the bowlers.

Crossflatts were dismissed for 185 with Safdar top scoring with 41. Andrew Walker proved to be the most successful bowler with 3-39.

Opener Abdul Rehman was in sparkling form for Buttershaw St Paul’s as they made 264-5 before bowling out Keighley for 253 to secure an 11-run win. Rehman struck 24 fours while making 153 not out and was backed up by Amar Ayoub (60). Ijaz Ahmed claimed 3-55.

Raees Hussain (54) and Johandre Barnard (52) were backed up by Mohammed Shahnawaz (40) in the Keighley reply as Mussawar Shah picked up 4-64.

Leg spinner Sam Thewlis impressed with 5-29 as Hunslet Nelson bowled out Northowram Fields for 158 to claim a 98-run win. Richard Gould made 75 but could not save his side from defeat.

Alastair Finn (58no), Thewlis (37) and Matthew Varley (32) helped Nelson compile a total of 256-9 when they batted first. Joe Hough (4-50) posed the main threat.

Wrenthorpe are facing the prospect of a third successive relegation after suffering a seven-wicket defeat against Heckmondwike & Carlinghow which leaves them in last place.

Muhammad Shahnawaz continued his good form for Heckmondwike & Carlinghow by taking 4-21 as Wrenthorpe were blown away for 80. Wajid Hussain top scored with 41 in the repy.

Division Three

Altofts are the new leaders after opener Andrew Wood struck an unbeaten 156 in their 115-run win over Adwalton. His innings contained seven sixes and 19 fours and helped them post a total of 285-7, Dominic Richardson adding 48.

Aussie Nathan Cant took 3-57 for Adwalton who were dismissed for 170. Matty Waller continued his good form with 78 but Luke Whitmore (3-18) and Saif Tahir (3-62) ensured their side secured a maximum 20 points.

Scholes dropped from first to third after their nail-biting one-run defeat by Gildersome & Farnley Hill. Muhammad Shah made 39 and took 4-64 for the victors.

Sayed Salman (50) top scored when Gildersome & Farnley Hill made 187 against some determined bowling from Mahleb Mahmood (5-48) and Hamza Khan (3-54) Jamie Robson (49) and Nick Curtis-Firth (33) battled hard for Scholes, but their side were bowled out for 186.

Great Preston moved up to second with a 150-run win over Brighouse. They took command of the game by making 252-7 thanks to Oli Baron (70), Hayden Mortimer (66) and Ethan Walker (32). Sam Holmes (4-20) and Chris Aplin (3-23) helped seal victory as Brighouse were dismissed for 102.

Mohammed Waseem (97) and Hassan Malik (57no) enabled Windhill & Daisy Hill to overhaul the East Leeds total of 189 and secure an eight-wicket win. James Watling (43) and Wasim Malik (34) top scored for East Leeds as Sajjad Ijaz (5-48) and Shoaib Iqbal (3-66) provided the main threat.

Zaib Ali took 6-56 and was backed up by Lewis Lockwood (3-11) as Crossbank Methodists bowled out Wakefield St Michael’s for 108 to complete an 84-run win. Skipper Gavin Harrison (46) and Ali (33) top scored in the Crossbank total of 192-9. Shamsullah Dost (3-28) was the best of the St Michael’s bowlers.