Bradford League round-up: Hanging Heaton hold nerve to continue winning start

In a thrilling contest Ben Kohler-Cadmore’s men held their nerve to win by nine runs to bag another 20-point haul.

Bowler James Byrne proved to be the match winner as he struck four early blows to help reduce Pudsey to 56-6 when they chased Heaton’s 229-9 then returned to the attack to dismiss James Smith (83) and Charlie Parker (39) after they had threatened to snatch victory for their side.

He finished with figures of 6-70 with Pudsey all out for 220 in the 47th over.

In Heaton’s innings, wicketkeeper Shahban Raheem played a crucial knock of 55no to lead a recovery from 134-6. Nick Connolly hit 43 and Kohler-Cadmore 33.

Batley found it tough going in their second game in the Premier with spinner Kez Ahmed taking 6-31 as they were dismissed for 158 in reply to a Woodlands total of 246-8.

They started their reply well enough as Sufyan Patel (35) and Adam Islam (23) helped them to reach 88-1, but nobody was able to go on to play a major knock.

Brad Schmulian (44), Sam Frankland (40) and Greg Finn (37) were the main contributors for Woodlands while Mohammad Bhoola (4-40) was the best of the home bowlers.

Cleckheaton were blown away in their Premier encounter with Townville.

The game was over inside 31 overs as Cleckheaton were shot out for only 56 and their opponents knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.

Gomersal continued their 100 per cent start in Division One as Joel Pollard paved the way for a two-wicket win over Hartshead Moor.

An impressive bowling spell brought him 7-30 and it looked like being an early finish when Moor were reduced to 36-8, but skipper Dave McCallum (81no) and Chris Swift (42) added 96 for the ninth wicket then a further 45 was put on for the last wicket with Daniel Squire (14) to make a game of it.

The eventual 177 total was not enough, however, as Gomersal reached their target with Andy Gorrod (45) and Adam Greenwood (31) top scoring. Squire and Josh Marsden took three wickets each for Moor.

East Bierley are just two points behind joint leaders Gomersal after a 30-run win over Undercliffe.

Ben Walter continued his impressive start to the campaign as he top scored with 47 while Matthew West made 41 in a total of 180.

Undercliffe were bowled out for 150 in their reply with spinner Danny Cross (4-46) and Jack Hebden (3-48) doing much of the damage.

Birstall are a further two points adrift after a narrow seven-run win at Carlton.

Their hopes of notching a second win looked slim when they were bowled out for 137.

But the value of Brad Lay’s 36 became clear when Carlton were dismissed for 130.

A 53-run last wicket stand gave Birstall a few worries again, but they held their nerve with Josh Haynes taking 4-20.

A big-hitting unbeaten 83 from Kashmir Talib helped Hopton Mills chase down a Buttershaw St Paul’s total of 249-9 to win by four wickets in Division Two.

Talib hit 16 boundaries in his 54-ball knock and support came from Chris Scott (56) with the pair putting on 138 for the fifth wicket.

Matthew Long (68no) and Amer Ayoub (59) hit half-centuries for St Paul’s while Michael Carroll took 3-64 and Umar Abbas 3-74.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Spen Victoria lost by 82 runs to Bowling Old Lane.

They started well as Lane were reduced to 23-3, but Hazrat Abbas (109) led a recovery that ended with a 278-8 total being posted.

Abbas followed up with 3-54 as Spen were then dismissed for 196, Mohammed Dar (57no) and Amjad Tariq (33) top scoring.

Heckmondwike & Carlinghow recorded a 36-run win over neighbours Liversedge in Division Three.

Abdulla Qureshi (42) and Farhad Imam (41) led them to 151 before Kanhu Pattnayak took 3-23 as Liversedge were all out for 115 with Richard Veal (36) top scoring.

An unbroken 46-run last wicket stand saw Adwalton edge out Crossbank Methodists by the narrowest of margins.

Crossbank’s 226 score was only passed with two balls to spare and defeat was tough on Rizwan Abid, who hit 72.