NEW Farnley roared back to the top of the Premier Division with an emphatic nine-wicket win on Sunday over an Ossett side that started the day as leaders and finished it in fifth place.

Mark Lawson, who had missed Saturday’s seven-wicket win at Bankfoot through illness, marked his return by opening the bowling and taking 5-23 as the visitors, who had won five of their previous six games, were dismissed for 72.

New Farnley skipper Lee Goddard was unbeaten on 32 when his side reached their victory target in 12.3 overs.

Charlie Best hit a century and Charlie Parker picked up six wickets as St Lawrence defeated Bankfoot by 128 runs at Tofts Road. Best made an unbeaten 106. He was joined in an opening stand of 139 by Mark Robertshaw (79) as the home side posted 267-4. Seif Hussain picked up three wickets for Bankfoot.

Bankfoot were dismissed for 139 as left-armer Parker returned figures of 6-31.

Tom Clee hit an ubeaten 50 as second placed Woodlands defeated Methley by six wickets.. Tim Jackson also made 50 as Methley’s total of 178 was overhauled.

Former Woodlands batter Jordan Laban top scored with 62 for the visitors. The leg spin of Brad Schmulian again proved to be a useful weapon for Woodlands as he picked up 4-46.

After losing their first two games by narrow margins, Townville have now won five on the trot and occupy third place in the table. Their latest victory was by six wickets against a Batley side still searching for their first win. Anwar Ul-Haq's 43 was the top score for Batley whose total of 192-9 was not enough to hold off Townville. Conor Harvey and Jack Hughes took four wickets each. Harry Clewett's 70no ensured Townville reached their target with 9.5 overs to spare. Yasir Ali took 3-64 for Batley.

Overseas player Yousaf Baber dazzled with an unbeaten 147 as Cleckheaton defeated Bradford & Bingley by 36 runs to record their first win of the season. The Moorend side remain in the bottom two but only by virtue of an inferior run rate to Hanging Heaton who also have 49 points.

The talented Pakistani hit two sixes and 16 fours as he helped his side recover from 22-2 to compile their highest total of the season of 265-3. Baber also featured in two big partnerships. He added 119 for the third wickets with Richard Pyrah (41), and an unbroken 124 for the fourth wicket with skipper Mally Nicholson (53no).

Bradford & Bingley captain Ed Brown (82) and Australian Corey Miller (54) led the home side’s reply of 229 which faltered in the face of fine bowling from seamer Iain Wardlaw (5-41).

Farsley had a convincing 141-run win against Hanging Heaton as they piled up a score of 307-7 thanks to opener Chris Beech's 84. Tom Lindsay hit five sixes and eight fours while making top score of 81 as Hanging Heaton were bowled out for 166. Farsley skipper Matthew Lumb (5-44) did the damage as the Red Lane side bagged 20 points.

On a double weekend of cricket, New Farnley chased down 159 to cruise to a seven-wicket win against Bankfoot on Saturday.

Woodlands bowled Batley out for 102 and went on to win by three wickets and Cleckheaton (172 all out) lost by three wickets to Townville.

Farsely put on 259-8 but Bradford & Bingley won by four wickets on a revised target of 239.

Pudsey St Lawrence (200 all out( beat Methley by 28 runs and Ossett (260-5) beat Hanging Heaton by 18 runs.