Division One

The battle for the league title took a couple of dramatic twist on a day when the warm sunshine produced some scorching cricket.

Leaders Baildon extended their winning start to seven matches with a three-wicket win over Saltaire - but it was all change behind them.

Saltaire's defeat dropped them from second to fifth and with third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence suffering a surprise two-wicket defeat at Manningham Mills in a last-over thriller, Bradford & Bingley and East Bierley were able to move into the top three.

Bradford & Bingley - who like East Bierley have recovered well since losing their opening game of the season - defeated Cleckheaton while East Bierley won at Pudsey Congs.

Yeadon, who inflicted a seventh straight defeat on Hanging Heaton are sixth and they are just seven points adrift of second-placed Bradford & Bingley.

The upset of the day came at Manningham Mills where the home side - who had lost their previous six league matches - beat Pudsey St Lawrence. Their hero was new overseas player Hemant Kumar who made an unbeaten 112, which contained 13 fours, as they judged their pursuit of Pudsey St Lawrence's score of 250-6 to perfection. Adil Islam weighed in with 47.

The St Lawrence total was built around the half-centuries made by Chris Marsden (60), James Smith (55) and Kassir Maroof (52). Nasser Jamal (3-34) was the pick of the Mills bowlers.

Kumar was one of three century makers in the top flight. Gharib Razak (East Bierley) and Matthew Duce (Bradford & Bingley) were the others on a day when the conditions at last favoured the batsmen.

Razak's innings of 126, containing a six and 15 fours, enabled East Bierley to make 225-8 before bowling out a much-changed Congs team for 187. Opener Andy Siddall made 64, but Congs were kept in check by some fine bowling by left-arm spinner Luke Jarvis (4-25)

Duce made 109 not out- his maiden ton for Bradford & Bingley - and his 110 ball innings contained three sixes and eight fours. He was ably assisted by his former Baildon colleague David Clow (58no) in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 114.

Their efforts carried Bradford & Bingley to a total of 248-5 - a score Cleckheaton never looked like matching as they were dismissed for 159. In-form off spinner Matthew Cockshott took three for 44.

Leaders Baildon had skipper Ian Philliskirk to thank for their three-wicket success against Saltaire. His innings of 66 enabled them to edge past Saltaire's modest score of 133. He had to weather a fiery burst from Tim Linley (3-48) before seizing the initiative, but once he departed five wickets fell for 15 runs as Nadeem Mahommed took three for 24.

The Saltaire innings had been one of disappointment. Nobody was able to take the initiative and that enabled Baildon's bowlerrs to seize control. Left-arm spinner Mushtaq Ahmed took three for 19 and left-arm opening bowler Andy Walker (3-27)

The bottom two, Farsley and Hanging Heaton were both defeated. Farsley went down to an 81-run reverse at Gomersal - the side who were promoted to the top flight with them last season.

Seamer Richard Browning returned his best figures of the season of five for 32 as Farsley were dismissed for 147 in reply to Gomersal's total of 228 all out. Gareth Phillips was the only batsman to look at ease and he was left stranded on 48 not out.

Gomersal skipper Richard Whitehurst hit 69 and young Andy Gorrod (36) to enable Gomersal to post a score of 228 all out. Off spinner Ashley Metcalfe (5-48) and paceman James Lee (4-70) were the pick of the bowlers.

Kiwi Tom Johnston took four for 61 as Yeadon dismissed Hanging Heaton for 168 to clinch a 36-run win. Skipper Alan Mynett (57no) battled hard but to no avail for Hanging Heaton. Faisal Butt (56) and skipper Grant Soames (52) were the top scorers in a Yeadon total of 204-7.

Division Two

Leaders Bankfoot saw their seven-match winning run brought to an end as they suffered a 31-run defeat at Keighley.

Reaping rewards: Keighley skipper Steve Reape sweeps Picture: Charlie Perry

Hitting out: Keighley's Richard Robinson v Bankfoot Picture: Charlie Perry

Matthew Bottomley (50), Simon Bailey (44) and Steve Reape (31) helped Keighley to a total of 199-8 despite the fine efforts of Greg Colehan (5-39).

Bankfoot were confronted by some good bowling from Ross Towler (4-48) as they were restricted to 168-9. Micky Hutchins (44) and John Barton 930) were the only batsmen who made an impression.

Undercliffe are now 15 points behind Bankfoot after an impressive nine-wicket win over Windhill who started the day in second place. Opener Mark Gilliver (110no) and Ben Heritage (109no) steered their side to victory with one over to spare after an unbroken second-wicket stand of 216.

Former Undercliffe batsman Farakh Hussain - playing against his old club for the first time - top-scored for Windhill with 86. Skipper Paul Mosey (53) and Neil Johnson (48) were the other main contributors to their side's total of 240-7.

There was no doubting the best individual display of the day. Lightcliffe skipper Richard Nichols made 157 not out and took four for 29 as his side defeated Great Horton by 130runs

Nichols and Umar Salim (75) helped their side to a total of 272-1, before Nichols and Simoin Black (3-42) joined forces to dismiss Great Hortom for 142.

Hartshead Moor lost ground in the promotion race when they slipped to a 48-run defeat against Spen Victoria. They collapsed to 144 all out and squandered the good work of Australian Lachlan Hall (56) as Mohammad Maroof (4-51), Mahboob Hussain (3-19) and Simon Kellett (3-27) shared the wickets.

Former Woodlands all-rounder Tosh Baker (62) and skipper Peter Jackson (43) were the main contributors to a Spen score of 192-8. Simon North was the pick of the Hartshead Moor bowlers with four for 42.

Morley broke their duck by defeating Brighouse by six-wickets to register a first league win. Josh Walker took five for 29 as Brighouse were dismissed for 103, then veteran Phil Carter hit 41 as Morley secured their victory.

Skipper Amjad Khan was again in good form for Bowling Old Lane as they inflicted an 89-run defeat on Idle. Khan made 47 not out as he and Mubtaba Akhtar (49) helped Old Lane make 197-7, then he took four for 20 as Idle were bowled out for 108.