DAVID Stiff and Muhammed Rameez were the toast of their Hanging Heaton team-mates after spearheading a 20-run win over Pudsey St Lawrence in the top-of-the-table All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League battle.

The two all-rounders changed the course of the game with both bat and ball as Hanging Heaton extended their lead over the defending champions to 20 points.

The leaders were in deep trouble at 118-6 when ex-Yorkshire player Ismail Dawood departed for 46, but former St Lawrence man Stiff and overseas professional Rameez soon changed the game's complexion.

They launched a ferocious counter-attack, adding 99 for the seventh wicket from just 67 balls as the Saints bowlers wilted and crucial catches were dropped.

Stiff smashed six sixes and a four in making 62 from 52 balls, while Rameez made 45 not out from just 29 deliveries as the total of 230-7 exceeded Hanging Heaton's expectations.

St Lawrence started their reply well, with openers Adam Waite (73) and Mark Robertshaw (33) sharing a stand of 70 before Stiff dismissed the latter.

Stiff went on to take (3-59) while Rameez – the division's leading wicket-taker – took his tally for the season to 44 with 3-44 and Tom Chippendale picked up 3-52 as St Lawrence lost their way.

A late 33 from Matthew Duce couldn't save them from their fourth defeat in five games.

Cleckheaton could yet have a big say in the destiny of the title judging by their 115-run win over third-placed Farsley.

The 2013 and 2014 champions have both Hanging Heaton and Pudsey St Lawrence to play in the final six weeks of the season, and the top two will not find the going easy if John Wood's men repeat this kind of performance.

Opener Wood set the tone with a hard-hit 61 which contained six sixes, and Ian Nicholson (53) continued the good work before an unbeaten 43 from James Lee enabled Cleckheaton to post 242-9 as young spinner Adam Ahmed(4-39) again did well for Farsley.

Their reply was disappointing, however, as they lost early wickets and subsided for 127 as Sam Wilson (3-22) and Andrew Deegan (3-41) impressed, Dan Hodgson top-scoring with 34.

The battle to avoid the drop has intensified as Pudsey Congs slipped back into the relegation positions after an 83-run defeat at the hands of bottom team Scholes on an afternoon in which fellow strugglers East Bierley and Bradford & Bingley recorded wins over Woodlands and Lightcliffe respectively.

With Morley losing by 61 runs to New Farnley, there are now just nine points separating eighth-placed Lightcliffe (144) from Pudsey Congs (135). Scholes, despite their victory, remain 31 points adrift.

Former Pudsey St Lawrence player Kasir Maroof was the star with the bat, while Yassir Ali shone with the ball as Scholes showed that they won't go down without a fight.

Maroof struck six sixes and seven fours in a fine knock of 107 which enabled his side to post a challenging 252-8, Joe Greaves (3-64) being the best of the Congs bowlers.

Ali ensured that Congs were never in the hunt as he ripped out the top order in returning 6-45.

Josh Wheatley (44) and Gareth Phillips (37) provided the only sustained resistance as Congs were dismissed for 169.

When East Bierley, who started the day second from bottom, were restricted to 147-6 at Woodlands, few would have fancied their chances of victory, but seamers Tuseif Arshad (4-20) and Matthew Lumb (3-49) found conditions to their liking and bowled out the home side for 101 to secure a 46-run success.

Bradford & Bingley bounced back from their disappointing defeat against Morley with a 68-run victory over Lightcliffe.

The key to their success was a superb knock of 128 by opener Charlie Best. He struck five sixes and 11 fours and, along with fellow opener Jack Edgar (42), helped his side to a challenging 235-8.

Lightcliffe, who were without their captain and consistent opening batsman Alex Stead, were dismissed for 167 as Ryan Norris (6-58) and Noman Ali (4-57) impressed.

Suleman Khan (45) and Philliskirk (40) were the main contributors for Lightcliffe, who are now caught up in the relegation dogfight.

Morley's hopes of easing their fears of an immediate return to Division Two were shattered by near-neighbours New Farnley, who recorded a 61-run win at Scatcherd Lane.

Left-arm paceman Mohammed Bilal produced a devastating burst of 6-16 as Morley lost their last eight wickets for 34 to be all out for 138 in reply to New Farnley's 199-9.

Bilal ensured that the home side couldn't capitalise on a first Bradford Premier League half-century from opener Henry Rush (53).

New Farnley's total owed much to opener Simon Lambert (72) and Qasim Khan (48) as Kashif Naveed (3-38) and James McNichol (3-48) proved the best of Morley's bowlers.