THE batsmen have certainly had the upper hand in the opening weeks of The All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League season.

Yorkshire's Alex Lees record-breaking 227 not out for Lightcliffe was the second double century of the campaign.

Methley’s new overseas player Mohammad Akhlaq hit an unbeaten 214 on his debut against Ossett and has now scored 338 runs and been out just once in four visits to the crease.

If the current conditions prevail then a number of batsmen will be eyeing career landmarks over the coming weeks.

Lightcliffe opener Alex Stead goes into his team’s away game at New Farnley needing just three runs to complete 12,000 in league matches.

Stead is the second-highest runscorer currently playing in the league. Top of the pile is East Bierley’s Mark Gill, who despite his limited appearances these days, requires 16 runs to reach 13,000.

His East Bierley side are away to the youthful Pudsey Congs in a match which will have a big bearing on the lower end of the league table.

Another Lightcliffe batsman nearing a career landmark is left hander Ian Philliskirk. He needs 211 runs for his 10,000 in his 19th season in the league.

Three more batsman who have 10,000 in their sights are Pudsey St Lawrence opener Mark Robertshaw, Hanging Heaton skipper Gary Fellows and the Undercliffe batsman Gulsheraz Ahmed.

Robertshaw, who has had a quiet start to the season, has 9,651 runs as he looks to end his lean run in the away game with bottom team Batley.

Fellows, who leads leaders Hanging Heaton in their tough trip to third-placed Farsley, is currently on 9,274. Ahmed is a further 23 runs back as he prepares to play for Undercliffe in their home clash with Wrenthorpe in Championship One where both sides are unbeaten.

The Farsley v Hanging Heaton match at Red Lane promises to be one of the key clashes so far this season.

Hanging Heaton have won all nine games they have played in all competitions, but Farsley will present a stern test.

They have continued to build on the progress they made when finishing third last season and have the Premier Division’s leading wicket taker in Chris Henry.

Newly-promoted Townville took advantage of Farsley’s match being rained off at Pudsey St Lawrence last week as they climbed into second place with victory over Lightcliffe – their fourth in a row.

They tackle Cleckheaton looking to close the ten-point gap between themselves and the leaders.

Woodlands, who dropped to fourth after their defeat in a

20-over game at Hanging Heaton, will be hoping to return to winning ways at home to Bradford & Bingley.