BATLEY scored a surprise 67-run win over The All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League's Championship One table-toppers Undercliffe as the race for promotion hotted up, with Wrenthorpe beating third-placed Morley by two wickets to close within five points of the leaders.

Tariq Hussain was the star turn for Batley. He took 7-39 as Undercliffe were dismissed for 133 in response to the home side’s 200.

Consistent contributions from Sufyan Patel (45), Naveed Zamurad (36), Hussain (34), Faisal Javed (33) and Roheil Hussain (31) enabled Batley to post what proved to be a winning score. Zeeshan Qasim (4-51) and Khalid Usman (3-31) were the best of the Undercliffe bowlers.

Wrenthorpe were indebted to overseas player Mehran Ibrahim for their success against Morley. He made 107, his maiden Bradford Premier League century, to help his side past Morley’s 240-6 with two overs to spare.

Ibrahim hit two sixes and 14 fours while Luke Patel (36) was the next highest scorer. Spinner Dave Nebard took 3-70 for Morley, who built their total around half-centuries from Sanga Cooray (75), Reggie Thomas (63no) and Oliver Halliday (50).

Bankfoot’s Arsaam Malik struck 25 fours as he made a stylish 124 in his side’s 160-run win over Baildon.

Jawad Waheed (47no) helped give late impetus to the innings as a total of 268-9 was posted. Seif Hussain (3-30) and Blair Oakley (3-72) proved to be the most successful Baildon bowlers.

Despite Oakley making 43, Baildon were bowled out for a disappointing 108 as left-arm spinner Andrew Stothart took 5-44.

The day’s most dramatic change of fortunes came at Hartshead Moor where the home side recovered from 5-4 to post 236-8 as they defeated Pudsey Congs by 137 runs.

Overseas player Ali Shan led the recovery with his first Bradford Premier League century. He scored 107 not out, an innings containing 15 fours, and received support from Iain Wardlaw (36), Danny Squire (34) and Rauf Qayyum (32).

Jamie Allen, who had caused the early problems for the home side, finished with 4-57 while young spinner Sam Wisniewski took 3-66.

Congs capitulated and were bowled out for just 99 as Wardlaw took (3-15) to help secure his side’s convincing win.

Yeadon are now 26 points adrift at the bottom and 43 away from safety after their four-wicket defeat at the hands of Hunslet Nelson.

The one bright spot for them was the performance of their young spinner James Massheder, who took 5-41 as Nelson lost six wickets passing the home side’s score of 143.

Andrew McIntosh (69) and Mark Murphy (37) ensured that Nelson bagged a victory which puts a bit more daylight between themselves and the bottom two.

Veteran Damon Gormley was again the mainstay of Yeadon’s innings with 37 while Glen Thompson was the best of the Nelson bowlers with 4-26.

Second-bottom Ossett suffered a 26-run defeat at Gomersal but did manage to bag 10 valuable bonus points.

Skipper Graham Hilton (82) and Jonathan Boynton (55) were backed up by Richard Wear (43) as Gomersal made 275 all out when they batted first. Paul Malone (3-30) and skipper Dan Busfield (3-57) were the best of the Ossett bowlers.

The spirited Ossett reply of 249 saw James Van der Merwe top score with 55, while Ian Philliskirk (44), Oliver Newton (35) and Malone (34) made useful contributions as Boynton took 3-57 for Gomersal.