FOR the second successive Saturday, Dales Council League Division A leaders Halifax Direct were involved in a thriller – this time at Tong Village.

Home side Farnley Hill gave them a real test of their title aspirations. Direct made an impressive 278 (Farhan Ali 60, Arfan Shah 49, Steve Harries 4-34).

But, undeterred by this large total, the hosts hit back through Richard Ferry (47), Ryan Grimes (45) and Chris Sowden (43), and, with Gary Beaumont hitting an unbeaten 69, the home side just came up 26 runs short at 252-8.

Leeds Sikh moved to within three points of the leaders after recording a 165-run win at Baildon.

Sikh amassed 285-4, with Taranjit Mathuru hitting 102 not out and Venu Dontula 76 before Baildon were out for just 120.

Third-placed New Wortley (96-3, Taimoor Khan 52no) kept the pressure on the top two after securing an easy home win over fourth-placed Shipley Providence 93 (Shazad Mehmood 4-33).

Cookridge (122-9) were involved in a second successive one-wicket nail-biter, this time the result going in their favour when they defeated previously in-form Pudsey St Lawrence (118, Jhangir Gulzar 4-20).

Tong Park Esholt (115-3) moved up to fifth after a seven-wicket triumph at home to bottom club Adel (114).

The fixture between Saville Stars and Pudsey Congs was called off on Saturday morning due to a waterlogged pitch.

In Division B, even at this early stage, it seems a question of who will finish second to runaway leaders Bradford Moor.

The latter have opened up a huge 52-point lead after their massive 293-run win at home to Cookridge B.

The hosts slammed 379-7, with Naveed Andrabi hitting an unbeaten 107 and new signing Shaukat Ali 91. Deflated Cookridge B were then dismissed for just 86.

Division C leaders Crompark (78-0, Ali Malik 58no) got back to winning ways with a ten-wicket win at Wibsey Park Chapel.

The highlight in this section occurred at Drighlington-Whitehall, where over 600 runs were scored.

Drig made an impressive 319-3 (Bihaven Mistry 101no, Peter Lloyd 68, Michael Wood 63, James Newell 48no), Saints making a real fist in response by hitting 288, with Paul Cullingford (89) and John Lodge (86) leading the charge.