The contrasting talents of Sam Frankland and Sarfraz Ahmed came together yesterday to enable one-time champions Woodlands to continue their push for the JCT600 Bradford League First Division title.

It was the combination of steady opener Frankland and the big-hitting Sarfraz that laid the foundations for Woodlands’ win at Undercliffe the week before, and they came together again to help beat defending champions Baildon by 36 runs at Jenny Lane.

Frankland, who carried his bat for the second match in a row, reached his century in the last over of the innings with a straight-driven six to finish with 104, while Sarfraz hit 31 off 21 balls late in the innings, including four superbly-hit sixes.

The overseas player was promoted in the order to increase the run rate as Woodlands reached 134-4 with eight overs left, and he did not disappoint, adding 59 in 6.1 overs with Frankland before he was bowled by Richard Atkins, the seventh bowler to be used by Baildon captain Ian Philliskirk.

It was this partnership that ultimately enabled Woodlands to take the game away from Baildon as they reached 212-5 – the top score of the day as damp wickets following the week’s heavy rain took effect.

Opening bowlers Andrew Walker and Craig Hitchenor each bowled eight tight overs, while slow left-armer Mushtaq Ahmed took 3-37 in his 15 overs, but later bowlers were not so successful as the visitors stepped up the tempo, and young Harry Smallwood’s only over cost 19 runs.

Baildon made a good start with Atkins (37) and Johnny Reynolds (23) putting on 58 for the first wicket, but both went within five runs of each other.

Wicket-keeper Shane Gadsdon followed at 74, and when potential match-winner Philliskirk was out at 98, bowled by Richard Spittlehouse with 15 overs left, Baildon’s challenge faded.

It was left to Simon Webb to hold the innings together with an unbeaten 62, but Baildon fell behind the required run rate as later batsmen fell cheaply, and they finished on 176-7.

Spittlehouse, who also dismissed both openers, finished with 3-49, while slow left-armer Chris Brice was a model of accuracy with 4-37 in his 15 overs.

Skipper Pieter Swanepoel said: “After our defeat against Bradford & Bingley five weeks ago, we made a few changes in our batting line-up and the changes are working for us. Sam Frankland batted through and we had a bit of firepower at the end.

“I thought we could defend 212, but, although there was a bit of uneven bounce, it was difficult to take wickets on there.”

Disappointed Philliskirk said: “It was as poor a fielding performance as we have had for quite a while.

"I thought 180 would have been a fair score, but Sarfraz changed the impetus and there is no club side that wouldn’t like Sarfraz in their team.

“I have had a bad captaincy day and I didn’t get my bowling changes right towards the end of their innings. I also bowled poorly myself, but these things happen.

“It wasn’t a bad effort with the bat, but we got bogged down in the middle, although Simon Webb batted well.”