IT PROVED to be an eventful day in the top flight of the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League – with leaders Pudsey St Lawrence losing for the first time and East Bierley registering their first victory.

St Lawrence’s six-wicket defeat at Lightcliffe enabled Hanging Heaton and Cleckheaton to close the gap at the top.

Lightcliffe, who also ended Hanging Heaton’s winning run two weeks ago, won with two balls to spare.

St Lawrence ran into early problems against the bowling of Rob Burton (3-44) as they plunged to 30-4.

Skipper James Smith (93) and Tom Hudson (25) stabilised the innings with a fifth-wicket stand of 116, but Jonathan Whiteoak (4-67) ensured that their eventual total of 183-9 was one Lightcliffe would be hopeful of chasing down.

Lightcliffe skipper Alex Stead, playing against his old club, made 39 but it was overseas player Suleman Khan (59) who ensured his side reached their target.

Cleckheaton underlined their title credentials with an impressive 79-run win over Woodlands.

The highlight of their success was a magnificent unbroken third-wicket partnership between Chris Holliday and Mohammad Zaman, who both made centuries and helped Cleckheaton to post a score of 309-2

Holliday, who is proving a great addition to the Cleckheaton side, made an unbeaten 151, which was laced with seven sixes and 15 fours. Zaman raced to 107 not out off just 69 balls as he struck four sixes and ten fours.

Cleckheaton’s overseas player Mohammad Bilawal quickly reduced Woodlands to 24-3.

Wicketkeeper Greg Finn (83) and Kez Ahmed (54) put on 69 for the ninth wicket, but their side were bowled out for 230. Bilal finished with 4-49 and Curtis Free (3-28).

Cleckheaton are now third, seven points adrift of Pudsey St Lawrence and three behind second-placed Hanging Heaton who defeated Pudsey Congs by 32 runs.

Hanging Heaton were in early trouble at 24-3 before Joe Fraser (93) and Ismail Dawood (57) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 155. James Kean’s (47) swelled their score to 267-6.

A fifth-wicket stand of 123 between Nick Lindley (96) and Andrew Bairstow (52) kept Congs in the hunt, but their hopes were shattered by the loss of their last four wickets for one run.

Paceman David Stiff took three wickets in four balls to finish with 5-54 as Congs were all out for 235.

East Bierley skipper Dan Shuffe hit an unbeaten century as his side won the basement battle with Scholes by 111 runs.

Shuffe’s innings contained five sixes and 11 fours and helped East Bierley to a score of 228-9. James Harding was the pick of the Scholes bowlers with 5-59.

Scholes are 19 points adrift of East Bierley and 25 short of safety after being bowled out for 117 as Awais Ejaz took 4-2. Yasir Ali top scored for Scholes with 33.

Morley, who started the day in second place, were dismissed for the day’s lowest Premier Division score of 68 as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of improving Farsley.

James Wainman, the left-arm bowler who played for Yorkshire Vikings in their Natwest Blast defeat by Leicestershire Foxes on Friday, helped reduced Morley to 12-4. Ben Jenkinson (28) offered brief hope of a revival before the last four wickets fell for eight runs.

Musafa Rafique (4-5) capitalised on the earlier good work of Wainman (3-15). Opener James Pickles (30) and Ryan Cooper (25no) helped Farsley to secure victory.

Bradford & Bingley were another side to be dismissed for a low score. They were bowled out for just 74 as they crumbled to an eight-wicket defeat against lowly New Farnley.

Opening bowler Mark Lawson (3-29) and off spinner Dave McCullum (3-29) did the bulk of the damage. Opener Simon Lambert was unbeaten on 34 as New Farnley clinched victory.