WOODLANDS need 11 points from their last three games to be crowned Bradford Premier League champions after a nail-biting win over Bradford & Bingley which had echoes of their last title triumph in 2012.

The league leaders squeezed home by six runs after their opponents lost their last four wickets for ten runs when in sight of the victory that would have kept alive their own hopes of winning the league for the first time since 1998.

It was a collapse almost as dramatic as the one Bradford & Bingley suffered at Albert Terrace in the final game seven years ago which enabled Woodlands to pip Lightcliffe for top spot.

Muhammad Bilal (3-36) and Brad Schmulian (3-14) took two wickets each as Bradford & Bingley were bowled out for 125.

Yorkshire player Harry Brook looked to be winning the game on his own when he raced to 39 but after he was run out, nobody else was able to play with the same fluency.

Brook had earlier shown his prowess with the ball by taking 4-41 as Woodlands, who are chasing the league and Priestley Cup double in Cieran Garner’s first season as captain, were dismissed for what looked a disappointing 131.

Two of the day’s most significant victories saw Undercliffe and Methley ease their relegation fears. Khalid Usman inspired Undercliffe to an 11-run win at New Farnley, while Methley overcame Wrenthorpe by eight wickets.

It means that Undercliffe now have 165 points, Methley 150, Wrenthorpe 146 and Lightcliffe, who suffered an eight-wicket loss against Townville, are bottom with 136.

Overseas player Usman again demonstrated his value to Undercliffe as he made an unbeaten 48 in their total of 135 and backed it up by taking 5-34 with his left-arm spin as New Farnley were bowled out for 124. Farrouk Alam (3-28) gave him good support.

Luke Jarvis (4-45) and Andrew Brewster (3-24) were the pick of the New Farnley bowlers on a day when they suffered their sixth defeat of the season.

Methley lifted themselves out of the bottom two for the first time this season as they swapped places with their old foes Wrenthorpe.

Opener Marcus Walmsley guided them to victory with an unbeaten 60 while Yorkshire all-rounder Matthew Waite was 35 not out when Wrenthorpe’s score of 121 was passed.

Luke Patel battled hard for his top score of 33 not out but lacked support as Wrenthorpe faltered against the spin of Sudara Udagadara (3-36).

Lightcliffe’s batting woes surfaced again as in-form Townville bowled them out for 107, with spinner Jack Hughes taking 5-28 and Richie Bresnan (4-19). Opener Jonathan Booth was unbeaten on 56 when third-placed Townville eased to victory for the loss of two wickets.

If Lightcliffe are to pull off a great escape, then their next two games are critical as they are at home to Wrenthorpe next Saturday and Methley the week after.

The top-flight’s tightest finish of the day came at Bennett Lane where Pudsey St Lawrence pulled off a one-run win over Hanging Heaton.

Even a superb innings of 105 from Ben Kohler-Cadmore and 52 from Gary Fellows wasn’t enough as Hanging Heaton finished on 249-8 in response to St Lawrence’s 250-5.

Opener Charlie Best (75) led the way for St Lawrence and was well supported by Australian Joel Curtis (64) and Harry Cullingford (39). David Stiff took 3-55 against his old club.

The day’s quickest winners were Farsley as they defeated Cleckheaton by seven wickets. Their overseas player Pat Kruger produced stunning figures of 7-19 as the Moorend side were skittled out for just 48. Only number 10 batsman Jonathan Whiteoak (17) spared them from greater embarrassment.