Hussain stars as Batley stun leaders to open up title race

Batley stunned leaders Undercliffe to throw the Allrounder Bradford League Championship One title race wide open last Saturday.
Spen Victorias Oliver Davidson hits down the ground during his sides Bradford League Championship Two clash with Altofts last Saturday. Pictures: Paul Butterfield.Spen Victorias Oliver Davidson hits down the ground during his sides Bradford League Championship Two clash with Altofts last Saturday. Pictures: Paul Butterfield.
Spen Victorias Oliver Davidson hits down the ground during his sides Bradford League Championship Two clash with Altofts last Saturday. Pictures: Paul Butterfield.

Batley secured a 67-run win thanks largely to a brilliant bowling display by Tariq Hussain and with Wrenthorpe beating third placed Morley in a tight contest, they closed to within five points.

Batley posted a useful total off 200 when they batted first as Sufyan Patel (45), Naveed Zamurad (36), Tariq Hussain (34), Faisal Javed (33) and Roheil Hussain (31) all made useful contributions.

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Zeeshan Qasim (4-51) and Khalid Usman (3-31) were the best of the Undercliffe bowlers.

Tariq Hussain then produced a match winning performance with the ball as he took 7-39 as Undercliffe were dismissed for 133.

Morley would have fancied their chances of beating second placed Wrenthorpe after they posted 240-6 with Sanga Cooray (75), Reggie Thomas (63no) and Oliver Halliday (50) all making half centuries.

Wrenthorpe overseas player Mehran Ibrahim struck a maiden Bradford League century in reply and his 107 included two sixes and 14 fours.

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Luke Patel (36) was the next highest scorer and although spinner Dave Nebard took 3-70, Wrenthorpe won with two overs to spare to close the gap on Undercliffe.

Hartshead Moor recovered from a dreadful start to overcome Pudsey Congs by 137 runs.

Moor were reduced to 5-4 early on but recovered to post 236-8.

Overseas player Ali Shan led the fight back and was another player to make a maiden Bradford League century.

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Shan’s 107 not out included 15 fours and received good support from Iain Wardlaw (36), Danny Squire (34) and Rauf Qayyum (32).

Jamie Allen, who had caused the early problems for the home side, finished with 4-57 while young spinner Sam Wisniewski took 3-66.

Congs capitulated and were bowled out for just 99 as Wardlaw took (3-15) to help secure his side’s convincing win.

Gomersal secured a 26-run victory over second-bottom Ossett, who managed to pick up 10 valuable bonus points.

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Captain Graham Hilton (82), Jonathan Boynton (55) and Richard Wear (43) led the way in Gomersal’s 275 all out which saw Paul Malone (3-30) and Dan Busfield (3-57) in form for Ossett.

James Van der Merwe (55), Ian Philliskirk (44), Oliver Newton (35) and Malone (34) led the Ossett reply but they were bowled out for 249 as Boynton took 3-57.

Ossett are 17 points behind third-bottom Hartshead but are now 26 ahead of basement side Yeadon, who suffered a four-wicket defeat to Hunslet Nelson.

Yeadon were bowled out for 143 as Glen Thompson claimed 4-26, with Damon Gormley (37) Yeadon’s top scorer.

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Young spinner James Massheder took 5-41 as Nelson lost six wickets reaching the total as Andrew McIntosh (69) and Mark Murphy (37) ensured Hunslet bagged a victory which puts daylight between themselves and the bottom two.