BIG-hitting by Sarfraz Ahmed and deadly bowling from skipper Pieter Swanepoel turned potential defeat into an emphatic JCT600 Bradford League victory for Woodlands against luckless Farsley.

The visitors must have fancied their chances of a much-needed win to pull themselves out of the Division One relegation positions when Jack Hendy reduced Woodlands to 53-8 with his competition-best bowling figures.

It was then that Ahmed entered the fray and transformed the game with a furious 75 off just 36 balls, which contained seven sixes and seven fours, as he dominated a decisive ninth-wicket stand of 99 with Chris Brice (26no).

That boosted the final total to 172 – and it was then the turn of Swanepoel to take centre stage. The former Yorkshire seamer took 7-16 as Farsley were dismissed for just 45 to lose by 127 runs.

Another bowler to take seven wickets was East Bierley's overseas spinner Haziq Tareen as they defeated defending champions Cleckheaton by 61 runs.

The victory was set up by former Baildon opener James Ford. He hit three sixes and 11 fours in his 102 as East Bierley posted a score of 232 in the face of some fine bowling from paceman Curtis Free (6-57).

The day's second top-flight century-maker was Suleman Khan of Lightcliffe. His 107 was laced with nine sixes and six fours as bottom team Saltaire were beaten by 89 runs.

Skipper Alex Stead (60) was the other main contributor to Lightcliffe's 236-8. Teenage spinner Daanyaal Ahmed then took 4-17 as Saltaire were all out for 147, with Asif Ayub making 47.

Pudsey St Lawrence secured the local bragging rights after defeating neighbours Pudsey Congs by 112 runs and are now 24 points ahead of second-placed Woodlands.

Eighteen-year-old opening bowler Joshua Wilson took 4-19 in his first Pudsey derby and was backed up by leg-spinner Tom Hudson (3-19) as Congs were bowled out for 104 in reply to St Lawrence's 216-5, which featured half-centuries for Chris Marsden (76no) and opener Mark Robertshaw (70).

Bradford & Bingley secured a three-wicket win over Hanging Heaton with just two balls to spare to move into third place.

Chris Thompson (44) and David Clow (42) helped them chase down the home side's 232-8, which included 76 from Ben Elvidge and 46 by David Stiff.

New Farnley beat Undercliffe by 111 runs, Lee Goddard (66) and Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batsman Andrew Hodd (43) having guided New Farnley to 226-8.

Skipper Mark Lawson followed up with 5-51 as Undercliffe crumbled to 115 all out. Overseas player Fahim Ashraf top-scored with 62 after earlier taking 4-42.