Bradford Central League First Division leaders Allerton were thankful for the rain that appeared early yesterday evening in their clash with second-in-the-table Apperley Bridge.

Visitors Allerton were hanging on at 131-9 (Johnny Waddington 54) in reply to the home side’s earlier total of 191-9, rain having the last word and leaving both teams with just one point each.

This rain-affected match allowed both Girlington and Norwood Green to make up ground on the top two.

Girlington posted a useful 263 (Mushtaq Hussain 75, Javid Akbar 6-85) at home to a depleted Great Horton Church, who replied with 143.

Norwood Green (131-7) recorded a three-wicket win following their trip to Salem Athletic, who earlier had made 130 (Mohammed Waqas 57).

In the final fixture, Thornbury’s dynamic duo of Kaleem Afzal and Abdul Halim were in form again against basement boys Greenfield.

Afzal hit an unbeaten 126 and Halim 82 in the home side’s total of 283-7.

In reply, Greenfield responded with 172, Halim completing a fine personal afternoon by returning 5-26.

In the Second Division, there was a meeting of today’s Thrippleton Cup finalists, and runaway leaders Salem Athletic (80-2) maintained their 18-point advantage after recording an eight-wicket win at Norwood Green (77).

Over 400 runs accrued at Allerton, where, for visitors Appperley Bridge, Moshin Khan hit 123 out of a total of 266-8. In reply, the home side reached 201 (Habib Ur Rehman 58) to fall 65 runs short.

Girlington (121-2, Mohammed Nouman 75no) had an eight-wicket win over Great Horton Church (119) to make it a hat-trick of wins for teams on the road.