Division One leaders Woodlands showed their ruthless side as they gained a 142-run JCT600 Bradford League win at Bradford & Bingley after shooting out the home side for a mere 47.
On a pitch helpful to seam bowlers, Woodlands were struggling at 104-7 against Bingley pace bowlers Jack Hartley (4-47) and Matthew Simpson, while Harry Smallwood took 3-26 with his spinners.
Opener Duncan Snell held the early part of the innings together with a top score of 56 before late contributions from wicketkeeper Usman Salim (34) and skipper Pieter Swanepoel (31) enabled Woodlands to reach 189.
Woodlands are three points clear of defending champions Cleckheaton, who were indebted to a fine all-round performance by overseas player Tanzeel Altaf for their 103-run win at Yeadon.
Altaf (61) and Mally Nicholson (74) were top scorers as Cleckheaton made 203 as Yeadon’s New Zealander Elliot Herd took 6-71.
Altaf then took 4-43 with his leg spin, while skipper John Wood claimed 3-14 as Yeadon were bowled out for 100, Oliver Halliday (47) and Jake Wright (46) scoring all but seven of their runs.
Pudsey St Lawrence maintained third place, 11 points behind Cleckheaton, after a seven-wicket home win against New Farnley – who, like Yeadon, are finding life tough in the top division, with both teams having won only one of their first eight matches.
Nick Walker (55), Matt Good (36) and Lee Goddard (35) all made valuable contributions as New Farnley totalled 215-9. But St Lawrence reached their target with 21 balls to spare thanks to openers Mark Robertshaw (77no) and Adam Waite (31), along with Chris Marsden (42).
Farsley dropped to fourth place after their second successive defeat – by six wickets at home to Hanging Heaton.
Former Yorkshire opener Joe Sayers (69) and Andrew Duckworth (69no) top-scored as Farsley made 190-4 but Hanging Heaton reached their target with 37 balls in hand thanks to another former Yorkshire player in Gary Fellows (66), Joe Fraser (44) and Ben Eldvidge (36no).
East Bierley, who began the day next to bottom, climbed two places after a 45-run home win against Morley.
Skipper Gavin Hamilton gave Bierley a positive start with 58 out of 79 but wickets tumbled at the other end and his side were in trouble at 88-6 before Kez Ahmed led their revival with 33 to enable them to reach 143. Off spinner David Nebard (5-34) and paceman Matthew Dowse (4-27) were Morley’s best bowlers.
The visitors made a fine start with an opening stand of 55 between Matthew West (34) and Gary Wainwright but the introduction of spinners Ahmed (5-20) and Luke Jarvis (3-20) turned the game dramatically Bierley’s way as Morley crashed to 98 all out.
Keighley and Undercliffe, the top two clubs in Division Two, returned to winning form following their first defeats of the season.
Keighley raced to a ten-wicket home win over Baildon after bowling them out for 109, with Richard Wear taking 5-28 before Richard Robinson scored 54 not out against his old club.
Undercliffe drew level on points at the summit after 108 from Hamid Khan enabled them to chase down Great Horton’s 210-9 while losing just two wickets.
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