Liversedge made it four wins out of four in the Central Yorkshire League with a dramatic one-wicket triumph over a previously-unbeaten Batley side at Mount Pleasant.

They are just one point adrift of Division One leaders Carlton with a game in hand and, with bottom club East Leeds next up at Roberttown Lane, their run should continue. After a tense contest throughout, it was skipper Tom Smith and Will Atkin who sealed the victory with a dogged 18-run stand for the final wicket off 29 balls, with the winning runs coming off the final ball of the additional over secured by the dismissal of the home side for 177 in 49 overs.

Mohammed Tahir (54) top-scored for Batley and, having helped keep the home side’s score to 177 with a 3-42 return, South African all-rounder David Winter’s top-scoring 40 for Liversedge kept his side in the game. Smith’s contribution to the Liversedge win was immense, with a 3-41 return to go with his last-wicket heroics with the bat.

Something has to give at fourth-placed Buttershaw St Paul’s tomorrow when they host third-placed Moorlands.

Buttershaw moved into fourth spot when skipper Paul Carroll hit 59 not out off 28 balls to secure an eight-wicket win at Ossett A. Brad Greenwood’s sensational 7-15 return in 11 overs helped bowl out the home side for 137 to set up the win.

Moorlands were 95-run winners at home to Methley A to hold on to third spot.

In the Premier Division, Birstall completed their second successive win when they overcame Wakefield St Michaels by three wickets at Leeds Road. Saif ur Rehman was the key man for Birstall, taking 4-39 to bowl out St Michaels for 155.

Birstall visit champions Wrenthorpe tomorrow.