Promotion race set to go right down to the wire

Division Two

The Division Two promotion race is set to go down to the wire after the four contenders all secured victories.

Baildon bounced back from their defeat at Gomersal on Saturday with a 16-run win over Spen Victoria, while Yeadon thrashed Brighouse by 199 runs and Gomersal defeated Hartshead Moor by six wickets.

Baildon were indebted to Kasir Maroof who made a determined 53 as they were bowled out for 155 by Spen Victoria. Slow bowlers Ben Platt (4-37) and Craig Woodhead (3-48) were the best of the bowlers.

Nick Rushworth (44) and Platt (43) gave Spen hope, but Alex Hewitt(4-40) and Mushtaq Ahmed (3-16) helped dismiss Spen for 139.

Baildon’s lead at the top was cut to three points as Yeadon picked up 20 points for defeating Brighouse.

The highlight of their victory was a splendid maiden Bradford League century from Tariq Mahboob. He hit one six and 13 fours in his 123 and he shared in a third-wicket stand of 118 with Oliver Halliday (71). Damon Gormley (54) helped well the score to 273-4 in a match reduced to 47 overs a side after a delayed start.

Halliday completed a fine al-round performance by taking 5-34 as he and Ryan Mooney (3-9) enabled Yeadon to bowl out their rivals for 74.

Third-placed Morley, 13 points behind Yeadon and a further three adrift of Baildon, crucially still have a game in hand on their rivals and still have Yeadon to play.

They picked up maximum points after overpowering Great Horton. Skipper Matthew Baxter (59) was supported well by teenage batsmen James McNichol (58) and Chris Rodwell (47), while Kashif Naveed (39) and Colin Nuthall (36) also chipped in with valuable runs as Morley made 277-6.

Great Horton, despite 74 from Sadaqat Zaman, were bowled out for 124 with Nathan Bromby (4-23) and former Great Horton overseas player Naveed (3-12) doing much of the damage.

Hartshead Moor’s weakened side were skittled out for 59 as Gomersal romped to victory. James Russell took 6-18 and Chris Rhodes (3-37) as the Hartshead Moor batting crumbled.

Gomersal lost early wickets to Simon North (4-26), but recovered to win by six wickets and remain in the promotion race.

Idle made it a doubly successful weekend as they defeated Bowling Old lane by 93 runs. Jack Carter (59), skipper Andy Wilsdon (37) and Wajid Hussain (33) helped Idle make 218-8 despite the efforts of Mahboob Hussain (4-52).

Old Lane were bowled out for 125 in reply. Mohammed Faisal (43) and Mumtaz Zafar (39) were their top scorers as Michael Kelsey (4-28) and Rohan Misra (3-22) sealed Idle’s victory.