NEWLY-PROMOTED Methley marked their Bradford Premier League top-flight debut with a thrilling last-ball win over Bradford & Bingley.

The hosts chased down a challenging 226-8 to win by two wickets which meant disappointment for Jonathan Whitehead, who had made a century in his first game for the visitors.

Last season’s league player of the year Marcus Walmsley set the tone for the run chase with 58 and was well supported by Jordan Laban (41) and Ashton Blakey (36) as Methley judged their run chase to perfection.

Teenage spinner Bradley Reeve marked his debut for Bradford & Bingley with 3-55 while paceman Jack Hartley was the most successful of his side’s bowlers with 4-48.

The Bradford & Bingley innings had been dominated by the former Woodbank batsman Whitehead. He had the distinction of scoring the first ton of the season as he scored 102, an innings containing two sixes and 13 fours.

Kyme Tahirkeli (42) and Jack Edgar (35) were the other main contributors for Bradford & Bingley. The best of Methley’s bowlers was young slow left-armer Harry Sullivan (3-68).

The day’s quickest winners were Pudsey St Lawrence. They put Lightcliffe in and dismissed them for 94 on their way to a nine-wicket win.

Richie Lamb (5-28) and new skipper Chris Marsden (4-18) did the damage as only Niall Lockley (34) made an impression for Lightcliffe.

Opener Adam Waite (39no) and Mark Robertshaw (36) shared a stand of 74 as St Lawrence breezed to their target in 19.3 overs.

The clash between last season’s top two saw champions Hanging Heaton defeat Woodlands by seven wickets in a match where the Duckworth Lewis Stern rule came into play.

Seam bowlers Tom Chippendale (5-35) and David Stiff (4-16) found conditions to their liking as Woodlands were rolled over for 96.

They never recovered from being reduced to 38-6 and only opener Sam Frankland (34) looked to have an answer to the Hanging Heaton new ball pair.

Hanging Heaton skipper Gary Fellows led the way with 31 as they reached their revised target of 93 off 25 overs.

Farsley and New Farnley were two more sides to secure victories by DLS. Farsley defeated East Bierley’s new-look side by five wickets and New Farnley overcame Cleckheaton by seven wickets after rain intervened.

Shabir Rashid’s unbeaten 87 was the cornerstone of East Bierley’s 157-8. Yorkshire left-arm spinner James Logan (3-50) and off spinner Mark Harrison (3-47) bowled well for Farsley.

The Red Lane side's reply was given a sound base by Yorkshire’s James Wainman. He made 54 and with new South African Patrick Kruger scoring 40, Farsley reached their revised target of 148 in 33.3 overs.

Openers Simon Lambert (53no) and Martin Andersson (42) helped New Farnley to their revised target after rain caused 16 overs to be lost from their innings when they replied to Cleckheaton’s 229-8.

A score of 133-3 in 34 overs was sufficient to earn them 18 points against a Cleckheaton side who gained maximum batting points when they batted first.

They were well served by opener Nick Lindley and former skipper John Wood, who both made 71. New Farnley’s new all-rounder Alex Lilley, a winter capture from Beckwithshaw, was the most-successful bowler with 4-71.

Townville opened their campaign with a comfortable 46-run win over last season’s Championship One winners Scholes in a match reduced to 25 overs per side.

When new skipper Jack Hughes was out for 31 at 77-6, Townville looked in danger of being bowled out for under 100, but Richie Bresnan revived his side with 35 not out to take them to a total of 145-8.

Opening bowler Haris Mohammad took 4-30 for Scholes, who were dismissed for 99 in reply. Hughes took 3-14 and Harry Clewett (3-35) as Townville bowled out their rivals.