There is a real log jam at the top of Division A in the Dales Council League after Halifax Direct were joined at the summit by Shipley Providence, with New Wortley only two points behind.

Halifax Direct were involved in the most exciting finish of the day as Pudsey St Lawrence edged a low-scoring affair by three runs to inflict a first league defeat of the season on their hosts.

Saints were dismissed for just 90, with Tahir Raza returning an impressive 7-26, but the wily Keith Marsden (5-29) led the response as Direct were all out for 87.

The match between Shipley Providence and close rivals Leeds Sikh proved to be another low-scoring duel.

Providence were shot out for 81 as Harcharan Seehra returned 5-21 – but the Saltaire-based sided were not to be denied as their leeds opponents fared even worse and collapsed to 61 all out.

New Wortley (287) were back to form with the bat as Farhan Saheed (99) just missed out on a century, backed up by Safiullah Khan (57) and Saeed Mirza (50). Winless Adel managed just 77 in response.

Tong Park Esholt (147 – Matthew Skelton 50) continue to be upwardly mobile after a 43-run win at defending champions Pudsey Congs (104).

Savile Stars (222 – Nazam Arif 74) recorded a 99-run victory over basement side Cookridge (123 – Mohammed Israr 4-20).

And Farnley Hill (177 – Richard Ferry 64) logged a comfortable 113-run win at Baildon, who were blasted out for just 61. It meant that home bowler Tawquir Ahmed’s outstanding 6-18 haul proved in vain.

Division B leaders Bradford Moor (165 – Josh Chapman 5-22) have opened up a 31-point gap after their latest success, with Murtaza Ali Abbas (5-25) inspiring a 72-run win at home to Pudsey Congs B (93).

Second-placed Farsley fell back after they were blitzed for just 48 by Allan Mitchell (5-28) and Zair Shah (4-18) after Andrew Shackleton (53) had led Drighlington/Whitehall to 198-7.

Undercliffe closed the gap in third place as they passed bottom side Shipley Providence B’s 83 2 while losing five wickets.

The day’s outstanding individual batting performance came in Division C at Thornbury B, where home batsman Kashif Iqbal hit an unbeaten 151 out of 274-9 against a second-placed Drighlington/Whitehall B side who were shot out for 68 in reply.