Bradford Cricket League Division One witnessed a series of nail-biting encounters, with several matches being decided by slim margins. In a thrilling contest, East Bierley emerged victorious over Gomersal by a solitary run, while East Ardsley secured a hard-fought six-run win against Yeadon. Sandal overcame Morley by a mere 12 runs, and Carlton and Birstall ended their match in a dramatic tie.
However, the day’s standout performance belonged to league leaders Cleckheaton, who claimed a resounding 93-run victory against Batley, widening their lead by 22 points over Undercliffe. Unfortunately for Undercliffe, their match against Baildon was abandoned after just 14 overs.
Cleckheaton got off to a flying start as openers Waleed Akhtar (114) and Lachlan Doidge (61) amassed a commanding 158-run partnership. Akhtar’s blistering innings, consisting of four sixes and 11 fours, propelled him to a remarkable season aggregate of 683 league runs. Supported by Ethan Lee’s unbeaten 48, Cleckheaton posted an imposing total of 288-5 despite the efforts of Roheil Hussain (3-79).
In response, Batley’s highlight came from Aadam Hussain (63) and Daanyaal Hussain (65), who stitched together a resilient sixth-wicket stand of 137. However, their efforts were not enough as they were eventually dismissed for 185. Iain Wardlaw claimed impressive figures of 3-12, while James Stansfield contributed with 3-47.
East Bierley also experienced a thrilling finish, with Danny Cross emerging as the match-winner against Gomersal. Cross played a sensational unbeaten knock of 106, which propelled his team to a total of 249-3. His innings, featuring three sixes and 13 fours, set up a tense chase for Gomersal. With Gomersal requiring 14 runs from the final over to achieve their DLS target of 183, Cross was entrusted with the ball. The drama unfolded as Gomersal’s Robert Warriner struck a six and a four, followed by a single, leaving just three runs needed from two balls. Cross dismissed Andy Gorrod (94) with his fifth delivery, caught and bowled. However, the excitement persisted, with a wide necessitating an additional ball and two runs still required. Showing nerves of steel, Cross trapped Phil Carter lbw, finishing with figures of 3-53 and igniting East Bierley’s celebrations. Nisar Ahmad also contributed to the victory with 3-45. Gomersal’s defeat was particularly tough, given the valiant efforts of Gorrod and Jonathan Boynton (88), who had taken them agonizingly close to their challenging target of 283 in 42 overs.
Meanwhile, East Ardsley clinched a crucial victory against Yeadon, renewing hope in their battle against relegation. After a brisk start from Josh Wild, who scored a quickfire 51, Suraj Singh (46) and Oliver Appleyard (40) continued the momentum, guiding East Ardsley to a score of 200-4. Due to rain, Yeadon faced a revised target of 201 runs in 32 overs. Despite commendable innings from Adeel Ashraf (85) and Gulsheraz Ahmed (35), Yeadon fell short, finishing on 194-9. Zeeshan Haider impressed with the ball for East Ardsley, capturing 5-54.
In the match between Carlton and Birstall, the thrilling contest ended in a tie. Birstall had been set a revised target of 221 runs in 38 overs and came close to achieving it, thanks to contributions from Rishi Limbechaya (63), Dave McCallum (46), and Noah Chapman (32). Sana Khan claimed 3-65 for Carlton, who had posted 195-2 in 36.3 overs before rain interrupted play. Daniel Ford (69 not out), Steve Cooper (59), and Dan White (53) spearheaded Carlton’s batting effort.
Sandal continued their upward trajectory with a victory against third-placed Morley. Chasing a target of 191 runs in 37 overs, Morley was bowled out for 178, with Michael Carroll claiming remarkable figures of 4-62. Acting skipper Henry Rush (56) and Matt Baxter (37) fought valiantly, but Sandal remained determined to secure another win. Opener Ashley Mackereth’s aggressive innings of 71 propelled Sandal to a total of 177-8. Spinner Ali Usman shone for Morley, impressing with figures of 5-30.
These gripping encounters in Bradford Cricket League Division One have kept spectators on the edge of their seats, further enhancing the competition’s excitement and unpredictability.
