Ahmed produces gr-eight display

5:15pm Sunday 29th June 2008

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It might only be the halfway point of the JCT600 Bradford League campaign but there is already a strong contender for best bowling figures of the season.

Baildon’s left-arm spinner Mushtaq Ahmed took eight for eight off 9.3 overs as hosts Yeadon were skittled for 40, only opener Andrew Robertshaw (12) making double figures, Baildon winning by eight wickets.

Not far behind Ahmed in the analysis stakes was Hanging Heaton paceman Imran Arif, who took seven for 13 at Esholt to belatedly celebrate his one-year contract with Worcestershire.

Three Esholt batsmen reached two digits, Chris Schofield (3-26) taking the other wickets as Esholt were tumbled for 60, Rizwan Ahmed making an unbeaten 44 as the Batley side won by nine wickets.

Despite Woodlands’ emphatic win over Pudsey Congs, the defending champions are still only 13 points ahead at the top after Bradford & Bingley took 19 points in defeating Bowling Old Lane.

Skipper Phil Slater (51), Richard McCarthy (43) and David Clow (41), who added 76 for the eighth wicket, helped Bingley to 210, Rahul Kail taking four for 46.

Old Lane were dismissed for 133, Matthew Cockshott bagging four for 18.

Scotland’s Gavin Hamilton hit two sixes and 11 fours in an unbeaten 85, opener Lee Goddard scoring 59 as East Bierley’s county players shone in their 197 for seven at Pudsey St Lawrence.

Opener Mark Robertshaw (68) was eighth out at 116 in Saints’ 138 but they succumbed to Bierley’s holy trinity of Kez Ahmed (3-21), Chris Elstub (3-39) and Luke Jarvis (3-50).

Bierley are third just three points behind Bingley, and Cleckheaton are only a further point back after their eight-wicket triumph over Brighouse made it eight victories in nine matches.

Chris Maloney’s aggressive 74, which included two sixes and 11 fours, helped Brighouse to a batting point at 125, Ian Wardlaw taking five for 30.

Brighouse then secured a bowling point as well before Michael Nicholson (52no) and Mohammad Zaman (40no) saw Cleck home in 21.4 overs.

Saltaire continue to flirt with a relegation place after their 45-run defeat at Manningham Mills.

Khurram Maqsood hit 67 and Amjid Khan 35 not out in Mills’ 175. Saltaire put on 39 for the first wicket but were felled for 130 by Khan (5-41).