SALEM Athletic will be crowned Bradford Evening League champions for the first time – despite losing their latest Division One match to Shelf.

Athletic are only two points clear of Denholme and Shelf but have two more victories, so even if they finish level on points at the end of the season this week they will claim the title by virtue of having won more games.

Fahad Ul Haq's half-century helped Shelf to 132-6 at Salem, who were bowled out for 116 as the prolific Amar Ayub took 3-22.

Denholme and Shelf are battling for runners-up spot, with Andrew Wear (35) and Gareth Marshall (31no) helping to rescue Denholme from 50-3 to 135-4 at Thornton.

The hosts were well placed at 52-1 but first-change bowler Phil Poole produced a hostile spell to claim five wickets and restrict the reply to 106-7.

Jamie Chapman's unbeaten 37 was the foundation of John Breare's 126-8 against relegation rivals Smart Moves. Solid batting from Mohammed Qadir (44), Asad Abbas (30) and Hans Randawa (30) then led the home side to a crucial win that leaves Breare needing a victory from their last game to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Ross Todd (38no) led mid-table Tong Park Esholt to a much-needed win over relegated bottom side Bingley Congs.

Cambing pulled off a shock win against Buttershaw St Paul's which saw the beaten side drop out of the top two in Division Two.

Dean Carroll's 36 helped Saints make a competitive 146-6 but Umar Zaman (52no) led the reply, with Sajid Ali (25no) and Yasir Ali (27no) steering their team home off the first ball of the last over.

Wibsey Park Chapel's ten-wicket win over Indian Panthers, set up by Kashif Naveed's 4-16 and 33 not out, means they are promoted. A win tonight would see them go up as champions.

Thackley are second after openers Joe Ollernshaw (40) and Josh Brooksbank (34no) helped set up a total of 131-2, with rock-bottom Daisy Hill ending their reply on 62-3.

Queensbury secured only their second win of the season as Richard Moore (49) and Joshua Dougall (44no) overhauled Mayfield's 117-7 for the loss of four wickets.

Oakworth collapsed from 76-4 to 94-9 at Stomewhite, with the home side claiming a seven-wicket win thanks to Gulsharaz Ahmed's 46.