Champions Woodlands lead way again

Woodlands showed champions’ quality after recovering from 144-6 to post 226-9.

Grant Soames led the Woodlands fightback after Mark Lawson (4-53) and David Stiff (3-58) had the visitors in trouble, while two sixes in the final over from teenager Scott Richardson saw Woodlands collect maximum batting points.

James Stansfield was Heaton’s top scorer in reply with 27 as the home side struggled to 163-9 at the close in the face of impressive bowling from Sarfraz Ahmed (4-43) and captain Pieter Swanepoel 3-61.

Cleckheaton are second and reduced the Woodlands lead by a point to 24 after taking maximum points from their game at Bradford and Bingley.

Opener Tim Jackson hit five sixes and 12 fours on his way to a splendid 120 and shared a second-wicket stand of 136 with overseas player Ammar Mahmood (60).

Richard Whitehurst blasted five sixes in a quickfire 44 as Cleckheaton closed on 292-4.

Bingley were bowled out for just 95 in reply as Andrew Deegan claimed 3-20.

East Bierley slipped to a 21-run defeat to Baildon, who moved out of the relegation zone.

Although Yassir Abbas claimed 4-41 for Bierley, Baildon were led to 178-7 thanks to useful contributions from Gharib Razak (40), Vaibhav Naik (36) and Tom Webb (31no).

Neil Gill threatened to win it for Bierley with 82 but although Richard Atkins (37) supported, they were bowled out for 157 as Tom Webb (5-47) and Mushtaq Ahmed (3-21) did the damage.

n Woodlands progressed to the Dyson Insulations Twenty20 Cup quarter-final on Sunday thanks to a 68-run victory over Keighley.

Woodlands will travel to Hanging Heaton in the last eight after they overcame Gomersal by 78 runs on Tuesday when Joe Fraser hit 72 not out and James Stansfield collected 3-23.

East Bierley bowed out of the T20 competition on Tuesday, losing by seven wickets to Lightcliffe.