Bradford Premier League sees final-day chaos everywhere

With the Premier Division season having ended last weekend, Saturday was a chance for the second, third and fourth tier to shine, and they made the most of their moment in the spotlight.

Baildon needed just three points at home to East Bierley in order to guarantee promotion to the top flight behind league champions Carlton, while their Bradford visitors could only pip them with a big away win at Jenny Lane.

The latter scenario did not come to pass, as Baildon sealed promotion in style with a big eight-wicket win.

East Bierley batted first and Baildon skipper Kevin McDermott single-handedly reduced them to 39-5, before Cameron Sharp took the sixth wicket which sealed promotion.

Finn Brookes (40) salvaged some pride for the visitors, as they recovered to post 164, but still on a jubilant high, Baildon made light work of their chase.

With opener James Skingle scoring a magnificent 85 not out, and Will Kelly backing him up with 46, the hosts romped to victory inside 26 overs.

Carlton underlined why they are deserving champions after thrashing relegated Bowling Old Lane by 263 runs on the final day, while Hanging Heaton departed for Division Two on yet another bum note, losing by seven wickets to Bankfoot.

Naveed Malik hits out on his way to the 134 that saw Division One champions Carlton finish their campaign with a flourish. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

That victory for Bankfoot saw them finish third ahead of East Bierley.

Yeadon thumped Hartshead Moor by 234 runs, Batley outclassed Sandal to win by 96 runs, and Birstall beat Morley by 37 runs.

Division Two saw high drama at both ends of the table.

Crossflatts knew whoever won their game at Gomersal would go up as champions, and it was the visitors who took the title with a two-wicket win.

Naeem Safdar (3-14) shone early on as Flatts reduced their hosts to 27-4, but Gomersal hit back to post a competitive 179.

But overseas ace Sanjula Bandara was the star of the away side’s chase as he held his nerve to make an unbeaten 58, which dragged his side over the line.

Defeat left the hosts vulnerable to missing out on promotion altogether, if Hunslet Nelson won at Lightcliffe.

But in the end, both sides were left celebrating at Gomersal, as Lightcliffe won that game by 75 runs to break Nelson hearts.

At the other end of the table, Keighley escaped relegation by a single point on an extraordinary afternoon.

They had a buffer of 13 points over Heckmondwike & Carlinghow, but their rivals thrashed rock-bottom Hopton Mills by 183 runs to take a maximum haul on the final day.

That meant Keighley needed eight points to survive, and they picked up three with the ball as they kept opponents Northowram Fields to 264-6.

Keighley knew a win would guarantee survival, as would a score of 225 for maximum batting bonus points.

And with Andrew Dobson (68), Lucas Keslinke (43) and skipper Simon Bailey (33) holding their nerve, Keighley managed to score 240, losing by 24 runs but ultimately, staying up.

That meant a fine knock of 144 by Anosh Bhosale and a stunning bowling performance from Muhammad Shahnawaz (8-42) were not enough to save Heckmondwike & Carlinghow from relegation.

They racked up 298 batting first, then skittled Hopton Mills for just 115 in the reply.

Elsewhere, Altofts defeated East Ardsley by 79 runs and Scholes edged out Buttershaw St Paul’s by 15 runs.

And Windhill & Daisy Hill earned promotion from Division Three behind champions Great Preston after an extraordinary few days.

Oli Baron lifts the Division Three trophy for deserving champions Great Preston, but all the drama went on just below them. (Image: David Young.)

Wrenthorpe had looked well placed to finish as runners up, but were deducted 20 points for misconduct last week, leaving them six points off Adwalton and three behind Daisy Hill.

That left Adwalton in pole position for promotion on the final day, but they fell apart at home to Spen Victoria.

The visitors racked up a massive 360-9 batting first, before rolling over the shellshocked hosts for just 89.

And with Wrenthorpe losing by 107 runs to Great Preston, that left the path to promotion clear for Shipley-based Windhill & Daisy Hill.

Zaib Ali took 4-31 to haul their fast-starting opponents Streethouse back in, with the league newcomers only able to make 171.

Ahsan Tanveer (39) and Khalid Mehmood (30) were the heroes of the reply, as they guided Daisy Hill to the five-wicket win that secured their promotion.

Elsewhere, Gildersome & Daisy Hill beat East Leeds by four wickets, Crossbank Methodists cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Wakefield St Michael’s and Brighouse won by five wickets against rock-bottom Liversedge.