FORMER Idle batsman Imran Dawood returned to the Bradford League scene with a vengeance as a career best 145 helped Central Yorkshire Leaguers Liversedge to a three wicket win over Gomersal in their Heavy Woollen Cup first round tie at Oxford Road.  

Gomersal had set what looked like an impossible task after rattling up 297-9 in the first innings - an innings marked by a superb 52 from Whitcliffe Mount schoolboy Andy Gorrod on his competetive first team debut.

Half centuries from new boys Richard Whitehurst (54) and Ben Platt (57), who both arrived at Oxford Road from Esholt, and that fine knock from Gorrod - who only celebrated his 16th birthday on Thursday, looked to have put Gomersal firmly in the driving seat.

Skipper Whitehurst must have been very pleased with his side when Liversedge then went three down, with only 29 on the board, but Dawood helped them on to 84 before being joined by Will Stiff and from then on the Liversedge pair created mayhem.

Dawood's 50 came up in 42 minutes and his century, reached with the first of two sixes off the first two balls of a Richard Browning over, in 94 minutes but with Stiff in no mood to hold back, it was the combination of both men's efforts in putting on 171 in 88 minutes that left Gomersal trailing in their wake.  

After hitting seven sixes and 13 fours Dawood was eventually bowled, by Browning, with 43 still needed but 15 overs to get them. There were one or two nervous moments but skipper Simon Purdy came in at number nine to steady the nerves and when Adam Greenwood returned to the attack, bowling off spin, Stiff hammered successive sixes off the first two balls to finish unbeaten on 78 and steer Liversedge home.

Amazingly Dawood's score wasn't the highest of a day that was ladden with runs. Haroon Rashid - elder brother of Yorkshire's Adil Rashid - made 166 not out as Hanging Heaton thrashed Buttershaw St Paul's by 241 runs. New overseas player Vipinlal Manikoth made 101.

Three former Yorkshire players made centuries. Bradley Parker made 142not out to help his new side Shelley to a four-wicket win over New Farnley, and Gary Fellows made 142 as holders Wrenthorpe thumped Mirfield Parish Cavaliers. DavidPaynter chipped in with 91 as Wrenthorpe powered to 356-4 before bowling out their rivals for 86 with skipper Kevin Watson taking five for six.

The third ex-Yorkshire player to make a ton was Methley's Vic Craven. He hit 115 as Methley reached 309-4 before dismissing Kirkheaton for 169

Another centurion was Barkisland's Paul Winrow. He stroked an unbeaten 103 to steer his side to a nine-wicket win over Slaithwaite.

The draw for the second round will be made on Monday night.