The Bradford League made a spirited effort to beat Austra-lian touring team Crusaders only to go down by 14 runs in a high-scoring match at Pud-sey Congs.

Prospects looked bleak for the home side as they slumped to 17 for three in reply to the Crusaders' total of 287 for seven, with Simon Davies, Ian Philliskirk and Phil Slater all dismissed cheaply.

Idle opener Harvey Anderson and Pudsey St Lawrence batsman James Smith began the revival with a fourth-wicket stand of 49, but the innings only gained momentum when Idle's overseas player, Sri Lan-kan international Dinusha Fer-nando joined Smith.

They lifted the tempo with a stand of 77 for the fifth wicket before Smith was caught on the boundary edge for 64.

Bradford still needed a massive 123 to win from the last ten overs with only four wickets left, but Fernando - who took ten wickets in a match for Idle earlier this season - led the assault with 83 off 85 balls, including three sixes and eight fours, before he was caught in the covers.

Fernando added 70 for the seventh wicket with Pudsey all-rounder Glen Roberts and then Jaffer Nazir and Roberts put on 47 for the eighth wicket as Bradford kept their victory hopes alive.

Their hopes were boosted when they took 18 off the next-to-last over bowled by Ryan Wilson, but they disappeared when Nazir was caught off the first ball of the last over for 31, attempting another big hit to give Aaron Mato his fourth wicket with 19 still needed. Roberts was left unbeaten on an invaluable 48.

Earlier, consistent batting by the tourists enabled them to post a challenging score and put them in pole psoition.

Their top-scorers were half-century makers Simon Dent (66) and captain and wicketkeeper Hutchinson (61). Phil Slater finished with the best bowling figures, three for 27.

The Crusaders began their six-week tour with a sight-seeing trip in Turkey before playing matches in Denmark, Ger-many and Holland.

Their North of England itinerary includes Stamford Bridge, Newby Hall, Studley Royal, Cumberland at Keswick, Cumberland over 50s at Amble-side, Kendal, Clitheroe, Whall-ey, Hurst Green, Church and Oswaldthistle. They have also played at Dumfries and Gallo-way in Scotland.

Next week they will attend a reception with the Australian High Commissioner and play at Windsor Great Park and against the Royal Household CC, Guards CC, Duke of Nor-folk's team at Arundel Castle and Michael Parkinson's side at Maidenhead before flying home to Melbourne.