WOODLANDS moved top of the Bradford League Division One following a battling 23-run victory over Farsley on Monday.
After a total washout of the Saturday fixtures Woodlands were grateful to be playing on Monday.
Chris Brice laid the foundation with a big hitting 67 not out. He settled when Woodlands were struggling at 82-5. Batting at number six the all-rounder s
truck four fours and three sixes as he faced 55 deliveries.
Sarfraz Ahmed made a vital unbeaten cameo performance, as he hit an explosive 66 from 32 deliveries. He hit six sixes and four boundaries to help Woodlands to 236-7. Earlier Nicky Rushworth had opened with a useful 27. Joe Greaves was the pick of the Farsley bowlers with 4-75.
Farsley's Lorenzo Ingram was their top scorer with 43 but the Woodlands bowlers were on top of their game with Ahmed taking 3-62 from 15 overs. Pieter Swanepoel was economical taking 2-29 from nine overs. Richard Spittlehouse 2-54 and Chris Brice 2-44 also made good contributions.
Gomersal produced a fine three wicket win over last year's champions Baildon at Oxford Road on Monday.
Ben Platt led the bowling with a sustained spell of 15 overs, even after taking some stick he persisted and was rewarded with a haul of 5-71
Shahzaib Kahn also kept the pressure on Baildon with 3-29. Openers Ian Philliskirk (52) and Tom Smallwood (53) were the mainstays of the Baildon innings of 188 all out.
Gomersal's top scorer was Richard Whitehurst with 45 and there were valuable contributions from Alan Gorrod (20), Greg Pickles (25), Phil Carter (22) and Rob Burton (26 not out) as they reached 190-7 in 47.5 overs.
Cleckheaton successfully put the brakes on East Bierley in their exciting derby contest at South View Road on Monday.
Bierley openers Andrew Rennison and Gharib Razak put on 72 before Rennison fell to John Wood for 34. Cleckheaton grasped the initiative as in the next over Ian Wood claimed the wicket of Greg Wood for just three. When John Wood returned to the attack he got rid of Razak also for 34. Ian Wood struck twice in his next over to have Bierley reeling at 84-5. Ian Wood claimed 3-29 and John Wood 2-30 for a fine bowling stint
Having got stuck into the batting the Cleckheaton bowlers refused to let go and Mark Cummins came to the fore to dismiss the tailenders and claim an impressive 3-13 from 5.4 overs.
Matthew Anderson chipped in with 22 as Bierley were bowled out for 170 in 48.4 overs.
Cleckheaton were reduced to 59-3 early on as Paul Hutchinson (2-45) claimed openers Mark Cummins (0) and Marcus Walmsley (14), cheaply.
Ammar Mahood hit 11 fours and a six on his way to an unbeaten 67 and with John Wood shared a fourth wicket stand of 77 to put Cleckheaton well on the way to victory. Wood was run out by Luke Jarvis for 50 as the visitors cruised to 171-4 in 28.2 overs.