SALTAIRE came closest to achieving a result as rain wreaked havoc with the JCT600 Bradford League programme.

Play started in only three matches and not one of them was completed.

Second-placed Saltaire, who staged the only game in Division Two, nearly beat Baildon.

They bowled out their neighbours for a mere 99 in 25.3 overs and needed only 34 to win with eight wickets left when more rain caused the match to be abandoned.

Slow left-arm bowlers Israr Ullah, Saints' overseas all-rounder, with 4-26 and Ijaz Khan 4-35 shared eight wickets as Baildon collapsed dramatically.

This was after an opening stand of 32 between Chris Reynolds – the top scorer with 29 – and James Ford, the last four wickets falling for just 11 runs.

With more rain always threatening, Saltaire made a determined bid to reach their winning target in quick time.

They lost Amer Ayub in the first over but Ullah and Rashid Ayub added 51 for the second wicket in 7.2 overs before Ullah was out for 34, including one six and six fours.

After that they added another 12 runs, reaching 66.2 in 9.2 overs before the game was called off.

The eight points Saltaire gained from the match mean they are now five clear of third-placed Keighley but still 46 behind leaders Undercliffe.

In Division One, Hanging Heaton gained six points from their abandoned home match against leaders Cleckheaton.

They raced to 183-3 in 20 overs, skipper Gary Fellows making 85 as he shared a first-wicket stand of 102 with Nicholas Connolly (42).

Cleckheaton lost captain John Wood in making 15-1 in 2.1 overs before the match was called off, although the bowling point they gained enabled them to increase their lead at the top to 25 points.

The other top-flight match where a start was made was at bottom club Yeadon, who reduced Lightcliffe to 114-9 in 23 overs before rain probably robbed them of only their third win of the season.

Alex Stead (44) and Rhys Jowett gave Lightcliffe a promising start with an opening stand of 58.

But wickets fell regularly after that, with Muhammad Saeed taking 3-39 and New Zealander Elliot Herd 2-30.

Yeadon were 30-2 in six overs in reply when the rain had the final say.