JCT600 Bradford League Division Two leaders Farsley strengthened their position on a day when their two closest challengers lost.

Farsley defeated Bankfoot by 76 runs and saw their lead stretch to 33 points as Spen Victoria slumped to a four-wicket defeat at Hartshead Moor, while New Farnley lost by the same margin at home to fast-improving Yeadon.

Australian James Pearson was Farsley’s match-winner. He took 5-32 as Bankfoot were dismissed for 139 in reply to the leaders’ 215-9.

Overseas player Ankit Rawat again impressed for Bankfoot with 61 but it wasn’t enough to save his side from defeat against a Farsley side that are well on course for an immediate return to the top flight.

Steven Plummer top-scored with 44 for Farsley, while Matthew Green (36) and Andrew Duckworth (34) added useful runs. James Sawyer (3-39) was the most successful Bankfoot bowler.

Spen Victoria’s batsmen wilted in the heat as they were bowled out for 120 by Danny Squire (4-36) and Adnan Raza Ali (3-40). Moor were helped towards their modest victory target by skipper Graham Hilton (36).

New Farnley’s batting also melted away in the scorching sun. They were bowled out for 126 as fourth-placed Yeadon avenged their opening-day defeat by the league’s newcomers. Australian Shaun Miller (3-21) and Altaf Mohammed (3-28) did the damage.

Yeadon eased to their target with Ben Elvidge making 43no, Dave McCallum taking 3-32 for New Farnley.

Like Yeadon, Undercliffe are moving ever more menacingly into the promotion picture.

Skipper Ben Heritage continued his good form with the bat by making an unbeaten 116 as his side defeated Idle by 71 runs.

Heritage struck 18 fours and was joined in two crucial partnerships by Ahmad Raja and Liam Brearley.

Raja, who smashed a six and 12 fours in a breezy 61, put on 101 for the second wicket with Heritage, and then Brearley (49) joined his captain in a fourth-wicket alliance of 111.

Undercliffe’s 269-4 proved to be out of Idle’s reach but they made a spirited reply of 198-8. thanks to 68 from Waj Hussain, who was supported by Tom Johnson (34) and Simon Curry (32).

Bowling Old Lane made the highest score of the day in Division Two thanks to the efforts of Ayyaz Akram and Devraj Patel. They put on 180 for the third wicket as Old Lane thrashed 292-9 on their way to a 174-run win over Great Horton.

Eight sixes and 11 fours flowed from Akram’s bat as he made his highest-ever Bradford League score of 130. Overseas player Patel made 86, while Khalid Mehmood (4-69) and Mohammed Bashir (3-71) were Great Horton’s best bowlers.

Patel then took 5-21 with his off-spin as Great Horton were dismissed for 118. Mehmood top-scored with 36 while Mahboob Hussain (3-44) gave support to Patel.

Brighouse secured their fifth win of the season when they chased down a Windhill score of 212-9 to win by five wickets.

Mohammed Daud (45), skipper Umar Salim (41) and Muhammed Hafeez (41) eased them home.

The top scorer in the Windhill innings was Jack Holland with 64, while overseas player Fakhar Hussain scored 36. South African Johannes Van Ee (3-49) was the pick of Brighouse’s bowlers.

Keighley’s recent revival stalled as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat at home to Gomersal.

Even with 53 from Max Davidson, Keighley could only post a total of 143 as spinner Adam Greenwood took 3-13.

Gomersal romped to victory with Richard Gould making an unbeaten 77 and Greg Pickles 40no.