IT was the Chris Shannon sunshine show at Bradshaw, where the home team proved last week’s fine win at Blackley was no fluke in the Halifax League Premier Division.

On this occasion, it was the batsmen who starred against perennial title contenders Thornton.

They rattled up 307-2 thanks to Shannon’s 155 runs, superbly supported by Matthew Crowther (62) and Jonathan Lister (67 not out), in partnerships of 133 and 151 runs respectively.

Despite having conceded 114 runs in his 13 overs with the ball, Josh Hutchinson was not fazed and produced another fine knock of 140 runs, to add to last week's 167.

Unfortunately it was almost a one-man effort in a total of 193 all out, as Si Collins (5-28) and Anthony Langton (4-64) took Bradshaw to joint top of the table alongside Illingworth St Mary’s.

Shelf Northowram Hedge Top had a disastrous day at Copley as they were all out for a miserable 45 runs.

Only Dan Klemm (22) reached double figures as Oliver Thorpe (6-16) and Ian Hartley (3-22) had the visitors back on the sidelines in less than 22 overs. The hosts needed just 9.3 overs to complete a maximum points win.

As the First Division got underway, it produced a surprise at Luddendenfoot.

The home team’s Jacob Whitehouse (44) led the way in a score of 220 all out versus Great Horton Park Chapel, Harris Cunningham taking 4-46 for last season's title winners.

Despite skipper Adam Beesley’s 74no, the title favourites’ chase was always behind the clock due to some excellent tight bowling.

Horton were restricted to a final score of 207-7, and fell short by 13 runs to succumb to a losing draw.

At Oxenhope, Ismail Mayat hit 43 for visitors Mount, but they succumbed to a miserable 95 all out, with Daniel Scott taking 4-14.

Mayat (4-46) again needed assistance as Oxenhope replied, but the Keighley team’s skipper, Lewis Hopkinson (42 not out), took the innings by the scruff of the neck at 36-3 to seal a maximum points win at 100-4.

Clayton slumped to 20-4 at Sowerby St Peter’s as Jack Leonard (5-25) found early season form, and despite a mini mid-innings revival, the visitors could only manage 116 all out.

Sowerby had little difficulty in starting their promotion campaign on a 12-point note with a reply of 124-2.

Two of the pre-season promotion favourites met at Upper Hopton where Low Moor Holy Trinity visited, the home team registering an easy win against a disappointing Trinity.

Hopton’s early and mid-order looked particularly strong, with Thomas Wilson (56) top scoring in a total of 234-8.

Mark Stokes (4-64) was the pick of the Trinity bowling, and in fact it was his 67 that helped the visitors recover from 37-4.

Despite Stokes' best efforts though, there was no coming back from that, and the innings closed on 151 all out.

The big shock in the Second Division came at Greetland, where Queensbury’s pre-season odds-on price for the title lengthened dramatically, as the home team cruised to an easy six-wicket win.

The visitors’ decision to bat first will go down as one of the poorest of the season as the Alis, Waqas (5-41) and Junaid (3-14), did most of the damage, with only two batsmen reaching double figures in a 101 all out total.

Opener Kafar Khan (58 not out) was in no mood to squander the efforts of his bowlers, leading from the front alongside Majid Jahanger (33), and they ensured a fine 24-point maximum two-match start to Greetland’s season.