Bradford Premier League drama with tie and Jer Lane top

But the Park Avenue side were made to work hard for their four-wicket win over Farsley on Saturday.

The visitors posted a challenging 251-8 before posing early problems for the leaders when they replied.

Farsley's Ben Wright threatened to derail Jer Lane's fine start to the season in a thrilling game on Saturday. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

Jer Lane were reduced to 16-2 thanks to a double strike from Farsley skipper Ben Wright and the hosts only registered their first boundary in the 16th over, but crucially the in-form Adal Islam was still at the wicket.

At the halfway mark of their innings, the home side had crawled to 77-3, but Islam and overseas player Dhushan Talawadekar soon changed the tempo of the innings with a vital stand of 114.

Islam made 77 and Talawadekar struck 67, before skipper Yasir Ali (31 not out) steered his side home with 13 balls to spare.

Wright was the best of the Farsley bowlers after earlier making 63 in the Farsley innings, while opener Joe Pocklington continued his good form with 70.

Islam, who can do little wrong right now, claimed 3-21, while spinner Amir Hussain took 3-55.

Jer Lane now have 123 points and are six ahead of New Farnley, who defeated Ossett by 28 runs, with Woodlands a further two back.

Dhushan Talawadekar was a key figure in Jer Lane's ascent to the top of the table on Saturday. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

Townville added a new twist to the battle at the summit by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Woodlands.

A century from Chris Holliday and another important contribution of 4-49 from Sri Lankan all-rounder Dushan Vimukthi were key factors in their side’s 100-run run win.

After losing both their Bank Holiday games this was the perfect tonic for Townville, who responded to skipper Jack Hughes’ decision to bat first by post a total of 262-5.

Holliday, who hit three sixes and 10 fours, scored exactly 100 and Woodlands soon found themselves in trouble in their reply.

Skipper Brad Schmulian stood firm as wickets fell around him, but nobody was able to provide the support he needed to turn the game around.

He was the last man out for 69 as his side were dismissed for 162.

It proved a reality check for the Bradford side, who had crushed Beckwithshaw in a bizarre Heavy Woollen Cup game two days earlier.

Woodlands dismissed their hapless Aire-Wharfe League opponents for just 36, before romping to a nine-wicket victory in a reply that lasted just two overs.

New Farnley are already into the semis, as they won their last-eight game on Sunday.

They were made to sweat by underdogs Barkisland, before eventually squeezing home by three runs.

It rounded off a satisfying weekend for the club, after New Zealander Cam Fletcher made 115 for New Farnley in their league game against Ossett on Saturday. 

He shared in a stand of 196 for the fourth wicket with Ryan McKendry who holed out on 99.

Fletcher and McKendry were both dismissed by Mubtada Akhtar (6-43) as New Farnley subsided from 259-4 to 295 all out.

Ossett were given a fine start by skipper Will Wade (69) before a brisk unbeaten 50 from Akhtar, which featured four sixes and three fours, saw the visitors gain maximum batting points and finish on 267-6.

All-rounder Archie Scott made key contributions with bat and ball as Pudsey St Lawrence retained their hold on fourth place with a 45-run win over Methley.

First he made an unbeaten 58 to help his side capitalise on a fine knock of 93 by Australian Campbell Kellaway as St Lawrence posted a score of 256-6.

Scott followed up by taking 6-57 as Methley were restricted to 211-9.

Cleckheaton’s young opening bowler Bradley Sylvester (4-41) claimed a wicket with the final ball of the match as his side ended their run of six defeats with a thrilling tie against Bradford & Bingley.

A third wicket stand of 101 between Jacob Slator (67) and Louren Steenkamp (55) looked to have placed Bradford & Bingley in a good position to overhaul Cleckheaton’s 242-5, but James Stansfield’s side never gave up.

Billy Whitford (41) and Ed Brown (30) took Bradford & Bingley closer to victory, but Cleckheaton and Sylvester kept going and forced the tie when last man Reece Cockshott was caught by Stansfield to give Sylvester his fourth wicket.

Pudsey Congs lost for the seventh time this season as they went down by two-wickets against Undercliffe.

Once again, their fragile batting was exposed with only Yohan Mendis (50) making an impression as they were bowled out for 127.

It was to Congs’ credit that they claimed eight wickets before Undercliffe secured victory.

Opener Danish Hussain made 41 before spinner Sam Wisniewski (5-26) provided some encouragement for the division’s bottom team.

Newly promoted Bowling Old Lane brought an end to Baildon’s unbeaten record in Division One as they beat them by 76 runs.

Old Lane never looked back once opener Farhan Hussain (91no) and Imran Malik (60) had added 125 for the fourth wicket, as they posted 227-7 despite the efforts of Cameron Sharp (3-57).

Baildon’s top order faltered as Kamran Siddique (4-33) and Ahsan Alishan (3-23) got to work.

Only Brodie Glendinning (50) provided any real resistance as the Jenny Laners were dismissed for 151.

Despite their defeat, Baildon have a 12-point lead over Carlton, who climbed in to second place after their 26-run win over Bankfoot enabled them to move above Batley, who suffered a 169-run defeat at Hartshead Moor.

Naveed Malik (70) dominated the Carlton score of 151 while James Glynn (3-15) and Muhammad Tariq (3-26) were the key bowlers as Bankfoot were all out for 125.

Defeat was hard on Bankfoot skipper James Lee who took 6-24 and made 45 but nobody was able to back up his efforts.

Craig Field rescued Hartshead Moor from 22-4 with an unbeaten 106 which enabled them to compile a total of 230-8.

Batley had no answer to the home bowling attack as they were skittled out for 61. Moin Hussain (4-27), James Rogers (3-20) and Lewis Lomax (3-8) sealed a win which lifts their side to fourth place.

East Bierley defeated Morley by 24 runs to register their first win which enabled them to climb off the bottom of the table.

Leg spinner Jack Dyson (4-35) helped bowl out Morley for 172, after Tom Burton (40) had earlier top scored in East Bierley’s 196.

It was a welcome win for the Bradford club, who had bowed out of the Heavy Woollen Cup the previous day with a thumping 10-wicket defeat to Wakefield Thornes.

And following that league victory for East Bierley, Hanging Heaton are now propping up the table following their six-wicket defeat at Sandal.

They were made to pay a heavy price for a dramatic collapse triggered by Josh Wild (6-58) which saw them lose eight wickets for just 13 runs after a bright start.

Skipper Mustafa Rafique (47) and Harvey Anderson (33) halted the slide but a total of 182 proved insufficient as Sandal secured a comfortable win.

Three Birstall batters as their side made 248-8 in their 138-run win over hapless Yeadon, with the victory easing the pain of their Heavy Woollen Cup loss to Hoylandswaine the following day.

It’s all change at the top of Division Two, with Lightcliffe now leading the way after their 88-run win over struggling Northowram Fields.

However, things could have been a lot tougher for Lightcliffe if it had not been for a crucial unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 113 between Drew Russell (71no) and Ben Speak (57no).

Ben Grech (76) and Richard Gould (33) gave their side hope in the reply, but Mohammed Jamal (3-16), Andy Walker (3-31) and Jordan Pickles (3-45) combined to bowl Northowram Fields out for 162.

Hunslet Nelson dropped from first to fourth after their 34-run defeat by Scholes in a low-scoring affair.

Crossflatts moved in to second place after their five-wicket win over Heckmondwike & Carlinghow.

Sri Lankan Sanjula Bandara set up the victory with 5-53 backing up the efforts of his batsmen, namely Jack Brooksbank (65) and Awais Khan (40).

Openers Liam Fletcher (94) and Richard Wear (55) paved the way for third placed Gomersal’s eight-wicket win over Keighley.

Their efforts ensured the visitors’ total of 215, which included 64 from Harry Temperton, was surpassed.

East Ardsley and Hopton Mills both pulled off six-run wins. East Ardsley defeated Buttershaw St Paul’s while Mills won at Altofts.

Shamsullah Dost hit a century as Great Preston made it six straight wins in Division Three with a 130-run win over Adwalton.

Dost made 111, an innings containing 13 fours, and his bowlers backed up that good work as Adwalton, who started the day in second place, were bowled out for 175.

Both Crossbank Methodists and Wrenthorpe capitalised on Adwalton’s defeat to climb above them in the table to occupy second and third place, respectively.

Wahab Hussain took 3-56 and made 37 as Crossbank Methodists recorded a four-wicket win at Spen Victoria.

Ubaid Zia (98) led the way as Wrenthorpe continued their surge up the table by chasing down a Gildersome & Farnley Hill total of 189 to record a six-wicket win.

There was a nail-biting finish at Streethouse where visitors East Leeds triumphed by two runs.

The league’s new boys were chasing down a total of 237-8, but could only finish on 235-9.

Windhill & Daisy Hill are up to sixth after a six-wicket win over bottom team Liversedge.

An unbroken stand of 132 between Hasan Malik (65no) and Shoaib Iqbal (52no) enabled them to chase down the home side’s score of 185-7.

Matthew Gibson dominated the Liversedge innings but just missed out on a century as he finished 99 not out. Khalid Mehmood (4-26) was the pick of the Windhill & Daisy Hill bowlers.

Brighouse are just three points above Liversedge after being bowled out for 85 and losing by six wickets against Wakefield St Michael’s.