Division One

The bottom two Manningham Mills and Hanging Heaton stole the limelight with impressive victories on another eventful afternoon.

Mills inflicted a second defeat of the weekend on leaders Baildon while Hanging Heaton brought to an end their dismal run of nine successive defeats by beating champions Woodlands.

But despite their victories Manningham Mills and Hanging Heaton remain in the relegation zone.

Overseas player Hemant Kumar put Mills on course for their win by hitting 79 as they compiled a score of 237-9. Kumar gained vigorous support from Zeeshan Qasim who made 34 as Mills staved off the menace of left-arm spinner Mushtaq Ahmed (4-52).

Baildon struggled in reply and despite the efforts of Jonny Reynolds (39) and Naeem Ashraf (34) they were dismissed for 180 by Qasim (5-39) and Akthar Shaffiq (4-44)

The defeat means that Baildon's lead has been reduced from 20 points to just two during a dismal weekend which has seen them lose to Cleckheaton and Mills.

Former Scotland opener Qasim Sheikh was the hero for Hanging Heaton as they scored their first victory at the expense of champioins Woodlands. Sheikh struck 20 fours in an excellent innings of 114 which helped his side to post a total of 271-4 - the highest score of the day.

Former Yorkshire player Mark Lawson (34no), Vipinlal Manikoth (32), James Stansfield (30no) and Haroon Rashid 30 all chipped in with useful contributions as the Woodlands bowlers were made to toil.

Woodlands were unable to keep up with the required run rate when they replied and despite the efforts of Scott Richardson (67) they finished on 227-7. Leg spinner Lawson was the pick of the bowlers with three for 60 as Woodlands sufferd their sixth defeat of the season.

Woodlands are now ninth and just 15 points above the relgation zone - a state of affairs nobody predicted at the start of the season.

Another side looking a pale shadow of their former self are Pudsey Congs. They suffered a six-wicket defeat to second-placed Bradford & Bingley who moved to within two points of leaders Baildon.

Veteran bowler Richard McCarthy set up the victory by taking five for 24 as Congs, despite an unbeaten 65 from Andrew Bairstow, were dismissed for a disappointing 135. Former Congs player Matthew Duce made 72 not out as Bradford & Bingley cruised to victory with 17.4 overs to spare.

East Bierley returned to winning ways to defeat Farsley by 140 runs. Paceman Mohammad Azhar Ullah (5-48) and skipper Paul Hutchison (4-36) bowled out Farsley for 107. Earlier, Lee Goddard (86) and Greg Wood (74) helped East Bierley to make 247 all out despite the efforts of Chris Henry (5-57) and James Lee (3-25).

Bierley are now seven points behind Bradford & Bingley and just three ahead of Pudsey St Lawrence who beat Saltaire by 50 runs. All-rounder Alex Stead had a fine match. He struck three sixes and 11 fours in an unbeaten 116 as St Lawrence made 250-8. He followed up by taking three for 50 as Saltaire were restricted to 200-9. Javed Umarji hit three sixes and seven fours in a breezy 72 while Nadeem Mohammed made 37.

Gomersal's former Esholt trio of Ben Platt (67), Gulsheraz Ahmed (57) and Richard Whitehurst (57) helped their side to a 47-run win at Cleckheaton. Their efforts enabled Gomersal to make 268-9 despite the determined efforts of Ian Wood (5-58).

Cleckheaton, who had beaten Baildon 24 hours earlier, made 221-8 in reply with skipper John Wood continuing his good form with 68 adn Tom pringle making an unbeaten 43.