Thrilling victory earns Heavy Woollen Cup final place for Woodlands against holders

A three-wicket win was only achieved with four balls remaining, but it set up an eagerly-awaited final between the two Bradford Premier League heavyweights at New Farnley CC on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, starting at 12 noon.

Woodlands had Matty Weston to thank for their semi-final success as he hit a brilliant unbeaten century to lead them home as they chased down York's 229.

Brad Schmulian (3-47), Henry Pearson (2-44) and Muhammad Bilal (2-37) did most to restrict the Yorkshire Premier League North team.

Woodlands' reply hit early trouble as they were reduced to 48-3, but Weston and Pearson came together to turn the game around.

They added 137 for the fourth wicket, with Pearson making 64 before his dismissal left Woodlands on 185-4.

Weston went on reach his century, finishing not out on 102, but with three more wickets going down the tie went down to the final over when Alex Kaye hit a winning boundary.

In the league, Woodlands won a high scoring Premier game with Cleckheaton to stay in the title hunt.

Cleckheaton posed a big challenge with their 293-8 total which featured a superb 110 from overseas player Muhammad Ammar who hit six sixes and eight fours.

Woodlands lost two early wickets in their reply before Mosun Hussain and Pearson put on 216 for the third wicket.

Hussain plundered 13 fours and two sixes as he made 115 in what was his second successive league century, while Pearson hit 110, including 12 fours and a six.

Cleckheaton kept plugging away, however, as Max Chappell's 5-71 helped reduce the visitors from 259-3 to 293-9, but Cieran Garner and Rob Medcalf held their nerve to get Woodlands over the line with two balls remaining to secure a dramatic one-wicket victory.

Hanging Heaton maintained their promotion challenge and second place in Division One with a 93-run success against Undercliffe.

The win was based round a fine batting display as they made a big 300-7 total thanks largely to a 159-run sixth-wicket stand between Kasir Maroof (84) and Charlie Kendall (91no).

Undercliffe were all out for 207 in reply with Umar Farooq (4-53) and Muhammad Ahmadzai (3-25) doing most to restrict them.

Birstall climbed up to fourth with an eight-wicket victory over Baildon who were bowled out for 151 with Sharoon Siraj taking 5-46 from 15 overs and Waseem Liaqat 3-57.

Siraj followed up with another superb effort with the bat as he hit an unbeaten 100 from only 66 balls, including eight fours and eight sixes.

Batley boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop at the expense of bottom side East Bierley who they defeated by four wickets.

Bierley posted a 241-8 score, built round Tom Burton’s outstanding 116 as he struck 11 fours and five sixes. Ben Heritage provided valuable support with 52, while Khalid Hamidi was Batley's best bowler with 6-58.

Batley’s reply was led by Arbaab Hussain, whose 96 came from 102 balls. Together with Muhammad Hussan Ahmad (37) he put on 127 for the second wicket.

Imran Mahboob's unbeaten 38 helped Batley get home with almost six overs to spare.