Opener Sam Frankland hit the first century of the JCT600 Bradford League Division One season as champions Woodlands opened their bid for a third successive title with a 98-run win at Saltaire.
He struck five sixes and 13 fours in an unbeaten 112 as Woodlands compiled a total of 231-5. Scott Richardson (37) and new signing Farakh Hussain (34) gave support.
Saltaire were tied down by left-arm spinner Chris Brice, who took 4-21. Saltaire finished on 133-7, with Irfan Amjad (61) and Waleed Akhtar (35) their top scorers.
The second century-maker was Lightcliffe’s Charles Roebuck. Promoted to open after Alex Lees’ recall by Yorkshire, he blasted his way to 126 not out.
He dominated an unbroken opening stand of 156 with Chris Taylor as Brad-ford & Bingley were defeated by ten wickets.
Bradford & Bingley were bowled out for 155, despite the efforts of Alex Atkinson (51) and skipper Phil Slater (32).Yorkshire fast bowler Moin Ashraf took 3-40 and Suleman Khan 3-25.
The best bowling performance on a day when the spin bowlers revelled in the conditions came from Pudsey Congs’ slow bowler Glenn Roberts in their one-run win at East Bierley.
Roberts took 7-38 as East Bierley finished on 182-9 in reply to Congs’ 183-9.
East Bierley needed 12 from the last over and then six from the final ball from off-spinner Eddie Walmsley. Neil Gill found the boundary but it was for a four and Congs had won.
Andrew Rennison, who was recently the top scorer for the MCC on their tour of Argentina, made 48 and opener Mark Gill 36.
Northamptonshire all-rounder James Middle-brook, making a welcome appearance, was Congs’ top scorer with 40 in the face of some good bowling from left-arm spinner Luke Jarvis (4-31).
Former Yorkshire fast bowler James Lee (5-21) and skipper John Wood (3-25) set notoriously slow starters Cleckheaton on their way to a six-wicket win at Baildon.
The home side’s disappointing total of 126 owed much to Tom Webb (40) and Kassir Maroof (34). Richard Whitehurst made an unbeaten 38 as Cleckheaton cruised to victory.
Morley must have fancied their chances of marking their return to the top flight with a win when they restricted Hanging Heaton to 117-9.
Gary Fellows, Hanging Heaton’s big winter signing, top-scored with 29 as seamer Chris Rodwell took 3-7.
Morley’s reply ran into trouble as Dan Busfield, making his debut after his move from New Farnley, took 6-30 as the Leeds side were dismissed for 63.
Pudsey St Lawrence leg-spinner Tom Hudson took 5-44 on debut as Manningham Mills were bowled out for 161.
Opener Adam Waite guided St Lawrence to a four-wicket victory with 78. Mills’ left-arm spinner Noman Ali took 4-37.
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