Idle reckon they have discovered a diamond in their overseas signing Dinusha Fernando.

The 25-year-old, who made two Test appearances for Sri Lanka against England in 2003, wrote himself into the Bradford League history books last Saturday by taking all ten wickets against Cleckheaton.

It was only the 30th instance in the league's history of a bowler achieving the feat, but it almost didn't happen.

Idle's captain Mark Nicklin explained: "He had bowled through and I was going to take him off when he came to the end of his 12th over.

"But he took a wicket with his last ball and, as he had taken all eight wickets at that stage, I knew there were only two tail-enders to come so I decided to keep him on.

"Dinusha then took two wickets with the first two balls of his next over to complete his all-ten, but with his hat-trick being split between one over and the next it wasn't until after we had checked his figures with the scorers that we realised he had also taken a hat-trick.

"It is a phenomenal achievement to take all ten wickets, but to also finish it off with a hat-trick is the stuff that dreams are made of."

Nicklin added: "The enormity of it was still sinking in half-an-hour afterwards. Normally we just get changed, have a quick drink and we are away, but not last Saturday.

"And it has certainly put Idle Cricket Club on the map. Apart from the Telegraph & Argus and a Yorkshire regional paper, we have also had calls from Wisden and UK Lanka - an independent paper for Sri Lankans in Britain."

Nicklin conceded: "Last weekend was the first time that Dinusha has been able to run in at anything approaching full speed because of the wet conditions we have had so far.

"His fastest ball is something in the mid-80s in terms of miles per hour and we now feel that we are capable of finishing in mid-table rather than being in a relegation battle."

Idle have a tough one at East Bierley tomorrow and, Fernando apart, Sal-taire's Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Yousaf will also be hoping for some sun on his back.

Saltaire skipper Ijaz Khan said: "Shahid only arrived last Friday and was running around the ground at Bankfoot last Saturday looking for extra sweaters to keep him warm.

"We all reckoned it was freezing so he must have been doubly freezing, and it was too cold for him to do himself justice with the ball, but he did take a good catch to get rid of Mal Nicholson."

Khan added: "But Sunday was even more unbelievable. We had a hailstorm at Roberts Park and within half-an-hour the ground was white all over.

At least it was a bit warmer for Shahid when he came down to the nets on Tuesday."

Saltaire are at Woodlands tomorrow, and Khan said of them: "They have strengthened over the winter and they are right up there with Pudsey Congs.

"But although Woodlands are better in terms of talent, there is no more determined side than ourselves. We might not have individuals who are as talented, but we take some matching as a collective unit, and we don't fear anyone."

Woodlands are one of three teams on 18 points, and the other two meet at the Britannia Ground when Pudsey Congs host Hanging Heaton. Pudsey St Lawrence, equal fourth with Saltaire, are at Spen Victoria.