Woodlands step up bid for fifth championship

Sarfraz Ahmed provided the fireworks as Woodlands strengthened their bid for a fifth league championship in six seasons with a 71-run win over Undercliffe.

Ahmed thrashed an unbeaten 71 from 29 balls with five sixes and seven fours as Woodlands recovered from 109-6 to make 193-6. Opener Sam Frankland batted through for 69.

Undercliffe's third successive defeat was sealed when they were bowled out for 122. with Richard Spittlehouse (4-33), Ahmed (3-38) and Chris Brice (3-9 in 11 overs), doing the damage, Only Farakh Hussain (45) resisted for long.

Woodlands are currently third but are just 16 points behind leaders Pudsey St Lawrence who beat Saltaire by five wickets.

Despite the efforts of the former North Leeds duo of Tim Jackson (52) and Farhan Khan (43), Saltaire's total of 169-9 was below par.

That fact was illustrated when St Lawrence secured victory with 17 overs to go thanks to captain James Smith (71) and Mark Robertshaw (32)

Bradford & Bingley won the showdown between the two Priestley Cup finalists by 47 runs.

Bradford & Bingley were reduced to 71-6 after a fine spell of seam bowling from Farsley captain Chris Henry (5-35) but recovered to make 169 thanks largely to Chris Thompson (45).

McCarthy (4-35) soon had Farsley in trouble. A breezy 44 from Joe Greaves briefly gave Farsley hope but it was quickly extinguished by Thompson

(3-15) and Phil Slater (3-10) as they were dismissed for 122

East Bierley beat Pudsey Congs by 68 runs to earn a maximum 20 points. Andrew Rennison (61) and Greg Wood (46) contributed to a total of 240-9 despite the efforts of Eugene Burzler (6-58).

Opening bowlers Paul Hutchison (4-48) and Muhammad Azharullah (3-40) combined forces as Congs were dismissed for 172.

Yeadon remain in the relegation zone despite a second-successive win – a 12-run success against Gomersal. Damon Gormley led the way with 90 as Yeadon made 209 in their 50 overs. Gomersal were restricted to 197-7.

The same 12-run margin separated the sides at Moorend where Cleckheaton defeated bottom team Bankfoot.

Hanging Heaton held their nerve to beat Windhill by one-wicket in Division Two.