Posted: June 29, 2008

Champions Woodlands underlined their determination to win a fourth-successive JCT 600 Bradford League Division One title by inflicting a 126-run defeat on their arch rivals Pudsey Congs.

Woodlands made 175 all out in conditions which gave assistance to the bowlers with opener Sam Frankland making 62, before hustling out Congs for just 49.

Spinners Glenn Roberts (5-50) and Jeremy Batty (4-59) bowled well for Congs after openers Frankland and Scott Richardson had posted what proved to be a decisive opening stand of 73. The failure of the Congs seamers to breakthrough with the new ball must have been hugely disappointing to skipper Matthew Doidge after he won the toss and put Woodlands in.

The Woodlands opening bowlers Pieter Swanepoel (3-20) and Safraz Ahmed showed what needed to be done as they quickly reduced Congs to 11-4. The visitors never recovered from the early blows and were bowled out in 35.3 overs. Left arm spinner Chris Brice completed the rout by taking five for five.

To add to Congs' misery, they dropped from second to fifth place as a result of their comprehensive defeat.

Brice's figures, as impressive as they looked, were overshadowed by the performance of Baildon's left arm spinner Mushtaq Ahmed. He took eight for eight as Yeadon were skittled out for 40. Baildon lost two wickets knocking off the runs.

Bradford & Bingley returned to second place after their 77-run win over Bowling Old Lane. Skipper Phil Slater (51), Richard McCarthy (43) and David Clow (41) guided Bradford & Bingley to a score of 210 all out despite the efforts of Rahul Kail (4-46).

Old Lane were dismissed for 133 in reply as off spinner Matthew Cockshott continued his fine form with four for 18. Richard McCarthy chipped in with three for 26.

Bradford & Bingley are 13 points behind Woodlands and three ahead of East Bierley who climbed to third place after defeating Pudsey St Lawrence by 59 runs. Skipper Gavin Hamilton hit two sixes and 11 fours in an unbeaten 85 as East Bierley made 197-7. Opener Lee Goddard was the other main contributor with 59.

St Lawrence, without their skipper James Smith, were bowled out for 138 despite a defiant knock of 68 from opener Mark Robertshaw. Kez Ahmed (3-21), Chris Elstub (3-39) and Luke Jarvis (3-50) were the men who bowled East Bierley to victory.

Fourth-placed Cleckheaton, a point behind East Bierley, won for the eighth time in nine matches as they defeated Brighouse by eight wickets. Chris Maloney blasted a rapid 74 which contained two sixes and 11 fours as Brighouse were dismissed for 128, Ian Wardlaw (5-30) and Tom Pringle (3-49) did the damage. Cleckheaton cruised home with opener Mally Nicholson hitting an unbeaten 52 and the consistent Mohammad Zaman (40no)

Hanging Heaton's opening bowler Imran Arif showed why Worcestershire recently gave him a one-year contract by taking seven for 13 as Esholt were dismissed for 60. Chris Schofield (3-26) picked up the remaining wickets. Overseas opener Rizwan Ahmed was unbeaten on 44 as Hanging Heaton clinched a nine-wicket win.

Saltaire were undone by one of their former players as they suffered a 45-run defeat against Manningham Mills.

Saltaire looked to be on top when Tim Linley, added by five catches from wicketkeeper George Hicks, reduced Mills to 35-5. But Saltaire old boy Khurram Maqsood had other ideas. He made top score of 67 and with help from Amjid Khan (35no) guided his side to a total of 175 all out. Linley finished with five for 71.

Khan followed up his performance with the bat by taking five for 41 as Saltaire were dismissed for 130. The result means continue to hover just above the relegation places.

Farsley maintained their ten-point lead in Division Two with a convincing nine-wicket win over Bankfoot who were dismissed for 107. Craig Johnstone (36) was the only batsman to make an impact as Robert Thornton (3-16) and Chris Henry (3-29) bowled well with the new ball. Farsley lost only one wicket knocking off the runs with Lorenzo Ingram finishing 38 not out.

Idle recovered from their defeat against Farsley last Sunday by inflicting an eight-wicket defeat on Lightcliffe. Andy Marshall took five for 32 as Lightcliffe were rolled over for 116. Skipper Danny Shuffe (51no) and Greg Pickles (38no) steered their side home.

Idle have been joined in second place by Keighley who had a second-successive last over win. This time their victims were Morley who they beat by four wickets. Andy Waggett (75) and Ross Towler (34) provided the impetus for their side to overhaul a Morley score of 201-5 with two balls to spare. Newcomer Richard Barber took four for 50 for Morley. Earlier, Adam Larkin continued his good form with a knock of 80. Nathan Bromby (49no) was the other main contributor.

Fourth-placed Undercliffe avenged their surprise opening day defeat by Spen Victoria by scoring a 58-run win at Intake Road. Young all-rounder James Hawley had a fine match. He made top score of 47 in Undercliffe's total of 217-8 and took four for 44 as Spen were dismissed for 159, Andrew Duckworth (43) was the other key contributor for Undercliffe while for Spen, James Baker hit 37 and Haroon Javed (33).

Gomersal are very much in the promotion picture after a seven-wicket win over Windhill, Opener Richard Gould (56), Adam Greenwood (43no) and Bradley Parker (40) enabled Gomersal to pass Windhill's score of 192 all out. Overseas player Ammar Mahmood top scored with 53 while Mohammad Altaf and Richard Clow both made 37. Skipper Rob Burton was the pick of the Gomersal bowlers with four for 27 while Nasser Hussain picked up three for 67.

Hartshead Moor took full advantage of the extra over they earned for bowling out Great Horton for 167, by snatching a five-wicket win. Craig Field (40) and Simon North (34) ensure they cashed in on the fine bowling of Martin Ellis (6-32). Thanks to Ellis, Great Horton were dismissed for 167 despite a fine 54 from overseas player Suleman Khan.