Manningham Mills’ stay at the top of JCT600 Bradford League Division One proved to be a brief one.

They suffered a six-run defeat to Cleckheaton and have now been overtaken by champions Woodlands, who had an emphatic 154-run win over Bradford & Bingley.

And there was a thrilling finish at Hanging Heaton, where their match with Pudsey St Lawrence ended in the season’s first tie after James Smith was run out off the final ball attempting to score the winning run.

The remaining three games at Baildon, Pudsey Congs and Saltaire were all abandoned without a ball being bowled but the three surviving games certainly provided entertainment aplenty for the spectators who braved the cold and damp.

Cleckheaton climbed to third place on the strength of their victory over Manningham Mills in a match reduced to 30 overs a side.

Their innings was launched with a 50-run stand between openers Tim Jackson (46) and skipper John Wood (29).

That gave their side the foundation they needed to build a total of 158-6, despite the efforts of Gulsheraz Ahmed (3-43).

Cleckheaton, who were without Iain Wardlaw due to his international duty with Scotland, made early inroads into the Mills innings.

Pacemen John Wood (4-40) and James Lee (3-43) reduced Mills to 44-5 before overseas player Noman Ali led a revival.

Ali made 41 but once he was out Cleckheaton were able to seal their third win of the season to move within three points of Mills.

Paceman Sarfraz Ahmed was at his deadly best as Woodlands dismissed Bradford & Bingley for just 44 to take an 11-point lead.

Sarfraz took 6-12 in eight overs as the visitors crumbled when replying to Woodlands’ score of 198-6 in the only innings to go the full 50 overs.

Opener Sam Frankland set the tone for the innings with a fine 71, which included a six and eight fours. Frankland shared a second-wicket stand of 100 with Simon Mason, who made a welcome return to form. He struck four sixes and four fours in his 55.

There were thrills galore at Bennett Lane as Hanging Heaton and Pudsey St Lawrence produced a match to lift the gloom brought about by the wet and cold weather.

Former Yorkshire all-rounder Gary Fellows couldn’t have chosen a better moment to make his first century for Hanging Heaton.

Fellows – whose first Bradford League hundred also came against St Lawrence nine years ago – struck two sixes and 13 fours in making 102 out of a Hanging Heaton total of 207-8, compiled in 40 overs.

Once again off-spinner Chris Marsden proved to be the most successful St Lawrence bowler with 4-55, while Craig Wiseman picked up 3-32.

Despite 35 from skipper Mark Robertshaw, St Lawrence were tottering at 116-5 after former Yorkshire leg-spinner Mark Lawson took 4-62. Then 15-year-old Jordan Thompson joined James Smith in a sixth-wicket stand of 67.

Thompson made 35 and gave good support to Smith as the scoring rate quickened. St Lawrence needed 11 from the final over but could only manage ten, with Smith getting run out attempting the winning run.

He made 57, a knock which contained four sixes and four fours.