Bradford League: Hanging Heaton won the Bradford League yesterday despite suffering a 79-run home defeat against Bradford & Bingley.

They were bowled out for a paltry 68 in reply to Bingley's 147, but then learned they were champions after hearing that their only rivals for the title, Baildon and Farsley had both lost.

The results mean that Hanging Heaton have an eight point lead over second placed Baildon and cannot be caught no matter what the results of the last round of matches are next Saturday.

Hanging Heaton have lost three of their last four matches, but Baildon failed miserably to take advantage in the double weekend of matches.

They had to settle for a one point draw at Bingley on Saturday after finishing agonisingly two runs short of the home team's total of 188 for eight and then lost at home to East Bierley yesterday by 26 runs.

They restricted Bierley to 176 for six, but struggled in reply as they failed to match the scoring rate required and were bowled out for 150 with Robert Burton taking five for 51.

Earlier, skipper Dermot McGrath top scored with 67 not out for Bierley and shared a stand of 69 for the second wicket with 16-year-old second team wicketkeeper Lee Goddard (38).

Third placed Farsley, who had beaten Brighouse the day before, lost by nine runs against Yorkshire Bank.

Bank's spirited end-of-season form has gone a long way towards ensuring their First Division survival and they won both matches over the weekend - against Pudsey Congs and Farsley.

Skipper Jatin Paranjape led the way against Farsley with 67 out of 197 for eight before Australian all-rounder Anthony Blackwell played an outstanding innings of 127, including three sixes and 16 fours as they fell nine runs short on 188 all out.

Bingley have banished their own relegation fears in style by taking 32 points out of 36 in an unbeaten run of six matches - four wins and two draws.

The league's leading bowler, John Carruthers took seven for 54 as Bingley struggled to 147 yesterday, but Hanging Heaton fared even worse and were bowled out for 68 with Richard McCarthy taking five for 27.

The dogfight to avoid relegation will continue until the last day of the season. Only two points separate the bottom five clubs, Bankfoot, Brighouse, Undercliffe, Spen Victoria and Cleckheaton.

In the Second Division third-placed Drighlington need only one point to ensure promotion after beating Saltaire and Esholt in the double weekend while fourth placed Lightcliffe won one and lost one. They are five points behind, but Drighlington have won two more matches.

After beating Saltaire by eight wickets at Roberts Park on Saturday, Drighlington beat Esholt by the same margin at home yesterday. They restricted Esholt to 134 for nine and then marched to victory thanks to an unbroken stand of 86 between leading batsman Iqbal Khan (59) and Jonathan Henry (22).

Lightcliffe, who are without their Indian batsman Mohammed Kaif who has had to return home early, lost to Idle on Saturday, but recovered to beat bottom club Salts by ten wickets yesterday. Richard Tesseyman paved the way with six for 26 after their ten-man opponents were bowled out for 63.

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