THERE were celebrations at Keighley as the Lawkholme Lane side won their first match of the season, beating fellow strugglers Idle at home by 24 runs to climb off the bottom of the JCT600 Bradford League Division Two table.

The result leaves Idle propping up the table and the only team in the league without a victory.

Opener Luke Chapman batted through the Keighley innings for 88 as the home side totalled 226-8, with Jonathan Wilkinson (47) giving good support.

Idle replied with 202-7 as Chris Wynd top-scored with 62 and overseas player Viraj Hadkar made 43.

At the other end of the table, the top three clubs, Morley, Scholes and Gomersal, all won.

Leaders Morley, seeking an immediate return to Division One after last season’s relegation, beat Baildon at home by six wickets after bowling them out for 160. Waqas Maqsood and Dylan Duraisingham both made 39 for Baildon before overseas player Kashif Naveed (45) and Matthew Baxter (31no) led Morley to victory.

Second-placed Scholes reduced Morley’s lead to 16 points after beating Brighouse by 96 runs to secure a maximum 20 points.

Newcomers Scholes made a formidable 266-5 with opener Kasir Maroof top-scoring with a fine 116. He shared and a second-wicket stand of 136 with overseas player Atif Zaidi (61). Left-arm spinner Danny Cross took 5-55 as Brighouse were dismissed for 170.

Third-placed Gomersal made the day’s biggest score of 288-6 to set up a 120-run home win at lowly Windhill and secure a maximum 20 points.

Opener Graham Hilton led the way with an impressive 122 and he was joined in a second-wicket stand of 157 by New Zealander Ben Hyde (65).

Windhill lost early wickets in reply as James Russell took 5-39 before Mohammed Yasin scored 54 and Shoaib Iqbal made 45 as the home side reached 168.

Spen Victoria gained a 130-run win at Hartshead Moor. They scored 210 before bowling out Hartshead for 80 in 20.5 overs with Adal Islam and Abid Awan each taking 5-37. Oliver Davison (50) and Zarak Khan (40) were top scorers for Spen.

Iftikhar Ahmed took 6-41 as Yeadon gained a seven-wicket win at Bankfoot. Neil Nicholson top scored with 31 in Bankfoot’s total of 182 before Jake Wray (72), Oliver Stephenson (45) and Damon Gormley (37no) led Yeadon to victory.