AFTER a couple of moderate seasons, when they finished ninth and tenth, some people reckoned that East Bierley might be taking the drop this year in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League.

"There were whispers at the start of the season that we would be relegated," said Bierley's opening bowler Tuseif Arshad.

And four successive defeats hardly quietened the doubters at the beginning of the campaign.

However, since they were rained off on May 21, the South View Road club have won four games out of five and are in the middle of a highly competitive top flight, where only 33 points separate third-placed Farsley from next-to-bottom Morley.

And Arshad, whose younger brother Usman is starring for Durham in the County Championship, reckons that Bierley have a decent chance of finishing in the top half of the table.

"I think we can be upper middle, say fifth place to seventh place.

"Apart from Pudsey St Lawrence, everybody can beat everyone else on their day.

"For example, we beat Hanging Heaton, who are a clear second, earlier in the season."

A damp first half of the campaign has slanted the scales in favour of the bowlers.

Last Saturday, 30-year-old Arshad took 3-26 in the seven-run victory over Lightcliffe, with Luke Jarvis taking 5-36, also off 15 overs, and Arshad said: "The wicket last week was definitely helpful to bowlers, but then we have the best spinner in the local leagues in Luke.

"Matthew Lumb and Awais Ejaz can also take wickets, and we reckon that we are always in with a chance as long as we can score something around 175.

"Personally, I have more control with my bowling and I am not trying to bowl as fast as I used to, but our problem is getting our best 11 out every week."

Arshad, who reckons he has a couple more years at Bradford League level – he might then go back to Bingley Congs in the Craven League – is delighted with the success of his brother Usman.

The former Beckfoot Grammar School pupil made a career-best 84 this week against Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street, bettering the 83 he made against Sussex at Hove.

Tuseif said: "He has done well with his batting and his bowling but has never had them both firing at the same time."

Bierley, who are eighth, are at seventh-placed Cleckheaton tomorrow, but the slightly more eye-catching matches are at Hanging Heaton, where New Farnley (fourth) are the visitors, and Woodlands (fifth), who entertain Lightcliffe (sixth).

Leaders Saints are at Bradford & Bingley (tenth), while the top match in Championship A is Undercliffe (third) v Batley (first). In Championship B, front-runners Townville host Spen Victoria (fifth).