BRADFORD & Bingley are the early pacesetters in Division One of the JCT600 Bradford League after wrapping up a ten-wicket victory over Lightcliffe before rain swept in and caused widespread disruption.
Paceman Matt Simpson (5-43) and spinner Noman Ali (4-9) skittled Lightcliffe for just 83, before skipper Phil Slater (67no) sped his side to victory in just 11.4 overs with four sixes and six fours.
A number of sides had batted themselves into strong positions before their hopes of pushing for victory were washed away.
Ben Elvidge and Ian Philliskirk shared a fourth-wicket stand of 172 as Hanging Heaton posted 300 all out at New Farnley.
Elvidge made 111 off just 83 balls, smashing three sixes and 17 fours, while Philliskirk – a close-season capture from Farsley – hit 16 fours in his 97.
Former Yorkshire leg spinner Mark Lawson, who has had a new lease of life as a pace bowler, took 6-63 against his old club. Off-spinner James Middlebrook, who has just been re-signed by Yorkshire, was less successful with 1-56 from seven overs.
New Farnley were going well at 53-1 from eight overs when play was abandoned.
Woodlands were another side to pile up the runs after batting first against Pudsey St Lawrence at Tofts Road.
Jordon Laban, the recent signing from Halifax League club Jer Lane, made an unbeaten 64 and built on the good work of opener Duncan Snell (63) and Grant Soames (52) as Woodlands compiled 295-6.
St Lawrence were 38-0 after eight overs when the game came to a premature end.
Defending champions Cleckheaton got off to a great start against Pudsey Congs as openers Andy Gorrod and Tim Jackson both made centuries in a first-wicket stand of 213.
There were four sixes and ten fours in Gorrod's 103, while Jackson struck two sixes and 11 fours in his 109, as Woodlands advanced to 292-6.
Congs replied with 116-3 from 20.3 overs, with skipper Gareth Phillips (42no) and Adam Patel (35no) at the wicket when play was abandoned.
Farsley must have been fancying their chances of victory when they bowled out Undercliffe for 155. But first the rain, and then the clatter of wickets as they tried to force the win in a shortened innings, saw them come close to defeat at 100-9.
Zeeshan Qasim (5-36) and overseas player Fahim Ashraf (4-51) sparked the collapse as opener Jack Holland (35) was the one batsman to threaten the bowlers' dominance.
Promoted Undercliffe had found the going equally tough when they batted first. Opener Hamid Khan (43) battled hard for his runs, while Chris Henry (5-49) and former Essex leg spinner Tom Craddock (4-40) bowled well for Farsley.
East Bierley skipper Dan Shuffe continued his good start to the season in his side's abandoned game at Saltaire.
Shuffe followed up his 110 on the opening day against Pudsey St Lawrence with 66 as his side made 190-9 at Roberts Park, Adeel Ashraf picking up five wickets.
Saltaire, whose reply was restricted to 30 overs, reached 126-4 with new signing Tariq Meboob making an unbeaten 50.
New boys Scholes were the only side to win in Division Two and so they head the table with a 100 per cent record. They followed up their opening-day victory over Yeadon with a 121-run success at home to Gomersal.
New signing Hasnain Abbass was the match-winner, scoring 128 in his side's 265-7 and taking 3-31 as Gomersal were dismissed for 154 (Mohammed Sharafat 5-33).
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