Yeadon made a superb start to their Bradford League season - a season in which they compete in Division One following their promotion as champions last season.

They travelled to Baildon for the opening day and the home side batted first and were struggling at 61-5 after Darren Murray had made inroads into their innings claiming three wickets.

His haul included a first ball capture of Richard Robinson as well as opener Colin Chapman and Paul Spragg. Baildon recovered from this position to reach a more than useful 191 being bowled out in the last over.

Jonny Henry picked up his first wicket for Yeadon after his move from Drighlington while last year's main man Naeem Khan bagged five wickets at a cost of 51 runs off 19 overs to demonstrate that once again he will be a player to watch.

A five wicket haul virtually straight off the plane from Pakistan into the Arctic conditions of Baildon Moor shows the determination of this talented cricketer.

Yeadon were led to victory by opening batsman Neil Elvidge who suffered with hernia problems much of last season.

Elvidge showed his class with a superb knock of 124 before being caught by Richard Robinson off the bowling of Mark Bray.

Simon Gormley was his opening partner and he contributed 13 as Elvidge led the way.

When he was stumped by former Guiseley junior Matthew Duce - who had provided the backbone of the Baildon innings with a superb knock of 80 - his brother Damon, the Yeadon skipper, came to the crease. He then shared a productive stand but Elvidge still played the major role.

Damon Gormley was eventually out for 32 and in the chase for the vital winning runs in the latter stages of the innings wickets were sacrificed in the name of victory.

Yeadon got home with one ball to spare as they recorded a great morale boosting win.

Baildon.- C Chapman c Soames b Murray 18, S Davies c Soames b Roper 17, P Spragg c Thornton b Murray 8, R Robinson b Murray 0, M Emmerson b Khan 12, S Leatherdale lbw Khan 2, M Duce c D Gormley b Khan 80, M Bray c D Gormley b Khan 23, M Ahmed not out 12, A Kirby c Thornton b Khan 0, M Donovan b Henry 0; x 19; ttl. 191.

Bowling: J Roper 6-1-26-1; D Murray 10-5-18-3; N Khan 19--5-51-5; G Soames 8-1-45-0; J Henry 6.4-0-44-1.

Yeadon.- N Elvidge c Robinson b Bray 124, S Gormley st Duce b Ahmed 13, D Gormley c Davies b Robinson 32, N Khan c Bray b Robinson 12, J Carey c Ahmed b Bray 2, J Henry c Duce b Bray 1, C Thornton not out 1, P Hebden not out 2; x 5; ttl. 192-6.

Bowling: M Bray 12-0-50-3; M Ahmed 19-2-75-1; R Robinson 16.5-2-51-2; P Spragg 2-0-11-0.

Former Yeadon junior Nicky Heinemann got an opening day duck for Windhill in their abandoned game against Brighouse while former Yeadon pave bowler Tony Gilks, fresh form a winter in Australia, had a 0-16 return off six overs for Farsley in their five wicket defeat by Cleckheaton for whom former Yorkshire player Chris Pickles was on top form with a knock of 92.

Otley CC raised Cameron Bailey claimed 5-45 for his father Mike's old club Pudsey St Lawrence against Hanging Heaton.

Mike Bailey's former opening partner Peter Graham bagged 2-17 off eight overs as Bradford and Bingley beat Yorkshire Bank by four wickets with Rawdon's Mark Best making an unbeaten 33 and taking 2-0. Addingham's Carl Smith took 3-57 off 20 overs.

Former Yeadon opening bowler Robert Hodson bagged an amazing 7-37 off 23 overs in helpful conditions at Bowling Old Lane to put the home side out for 84, just one run short of Saltaire's score of 85.

Esholt had an opening day win over Great Horton knocking off their 94 with just three wickets down. With some of the emphasis on youth at Esholt this season Michael Oldfield took 3-40 and Andrew Luxton 3-11 while Danny Gaunt hit an unbeaten 20.

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