BANKFOOT moved a big step close to Bradford Premier League Premier Division safety over the weekend, winning on Saturday and Sunday.

The newly-promoted Bradford side are now 20 points above second-bottom Cleckheaton, who occupy the relegation zone with Batley, and have now moved above Hanging Heaton for good measure.

On Saturday, Bankfoot entertained Methley, and skipper James Lee hit his first century of the season and opening bowler Osama Ahmad took 6-44 as the hosts secured a 129-run win.

Lee struck a six and 14 fours while making 107 and was joined in a fourth wicket partnership of 150 by Hamzah Iqbal (79), which rescued their side from 27-3 and helped them towards a total of 235.

Ben Waite took 5-25 for Methley but his batsmen didn’t back up his efforts as they crumbled to 106 all out, with Ahmad posing big problems.

They then defeated rock-bottom Batley on Sunday.

Batley, who are 26 points adrift of second bottom Cleckheaton, lost their way when they batted first, after opener Nikash Khan (53) had offered hope of them posting a substantial total.

Seif Hussain (5-53) and Jawad Waheed (4-40) prospered as Batley were dismissed for 150.

Bankfoot did not find things easy when they batted as Yasir Ali (5-46) proved a real threat.

But Majid Khan (34) top scored as they edged home by three wickets.

Cleckheaton are just 10 points from safety after securing a much-needed six-wicket win at Pudsey St Lawrence.

Their overseas player Yusaf Baber hit an unbeaten 104 as they chased down the home side’s score of 192.

Baber showed his quality by striking three sixes and 14 fours as Cleckheaton secured victory with 14.5 overs to spare.

St Lawrence made a sluggish start to their innings and it was only due to the patience of opener Mark Robertshaw (76) and a useful knock from Harry Cullingford (44) that they reached 192.

Spinners Baber (3-13) and Andrew Deegan (3-45) were the pick of the Cleckheaton bowlers.

Hanging Heaton are looking nervously over their shoulders at Cleck, after going down by 44 runs at Townville.

At the other end of the table, Brad Schmulian raced to 123 from just 86 balls as he helped his Woodlands side post the division’s highest score of the day of 334-7 on their way to a 120-run win over Farsley.

The New Zealander struck three sixes and 18 fours as he an opener Tim Jackson (70) put on 155 for the second wicket.

A late assault from Muhammad Bilal (52) added to the suffering of the Farsley bowlers. Spinner Mark Harrison (3-85) proved to be the most successful.

Farsley were never in the hunt for victory, but did manage to garner four batting points after making 214.

Ryan Cooper top scored with 61 as left-arm spinner Liam Collins picked up 4-36.

But Oakenshaw-based Woodlands are still 13 points behind leaders New Farnley, who thumped lowly Batley by nine wickets.

Elsewhere, Ed Brown hit an unbeaten 117 from 75 balls to propel Bradford & Bingley to a seven-wicket win at Wagon Lane against Ossett.

Brown arrived at the wicket with his side struggling at 14-3, but he quickly revived their fortunes, hitting four sixes and 19 fours.

Opener Jacob Slator (38no) shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 158 with his skipper as Ossett’s total of 171 was overhauled.

Mattie Race (58) and Marcus Walmsley (41) added 105 for the second wicket but once they were parted, the Ossett innings went into decline, with only Sam Storr (35) making a contribution.

Yasir Abbas (5-43) produced another fine performance as the spearhead of Bradford & Bingley’s attack.

In Division One, Carlton boosted their hopes of securing a place in the Premier Division next season with a nail-biting seven-run win over fellow promotion chasers Undercliffe.

It was former Undercliffe all-rounder Farrukh Alam who dealt his former side’s hopes a blow by taking 4-53 as they were bowled out for 257.

Jack McGahan (75) and Ollie Hardaker (60) led the pursuit of Carlton’s 264-9, but in the end the absence of big-hitting Zeeshan Qasim, who was injured while fielding, proved crucial.

Kershaski John Lewis (35), Jonathan Rudge (33no) and Dan White (32) led the way in the Carlton innings as Sunny Matharu (3-63) proved to be the best of the home bowlers.

There is simply no stopping Bradford outfit Jer Lane, as the leaders pocketed their 13th 20-point maximum of the season after a seven-wicket win at Keighley.

Their latest success was set up by Ibrar Younis (3-32) and Mohammed Jamal (3-40) as Keighley, despite 56 from their Australian batsman Noah McFadyen, were bowled out for 177.

Deron Greaves (75) and Nasir Chowdrey (52no) powered Jer Lane to their victory target.

Pudsey Congs breezed past Gomersal by 47 runs to move back up to third at the expense of Undercliffe.

James Ford (162no) hit Division One’s highest individual score of the season as Baildon made 333-3 in their 168-run win over bottom team Wrenthorpe at Jenny Lane.

Ford, whose innings included four sixes and 18 fours, featured in two century partnerships.

He added 174 for the second wicket with Chris Reynolds (61) and an unbroken 156 with Mounam Ejaz (82no) for the fourth wicket.

Wrenthorpe made 165 in reply, with Daud Waheed (59) and Usman Shakir (32) top scoring as Umar Zahoor (5-48) and Kevin McDermott (3-32) bowled Baildon to victory.

Openers Eric Austin (61) and Andrew Robertson (48) put on 119 to provide the platform for Birstall’s 74-run win over East Bierley.

Dominic Cleghorn (44) and Matthew Dyson (31) built on their good work as Nisar Ahmad (3-37) and Adam Brown (3-44) proved to be the best of the bowlers.

Skipper Brown followed up with 51 while Danny Cross scored 34 as East Bierley were dismissed for 175, with Ryan Gray (4-42) and Dave McCallum (3-41) posing the main threat.

Finally, Morley moved further clear of the relegation positions, and added to East Ardsley’s fears of a quick return to Division Two, with a comfortable nine-wicket win.

Yeadon maintained their position at the top of the table as their batsmen chased down a Buttershaw St Paul’s total of 272-9 to secure a three-wicket win.

Ashley Mackereth (4-26) and Zaeem Zulfqar (3-25) helped second place Sandal bowl out Bowling Old Lane for 151 to secure a 21-run win at Birch Lane.

Hartshead Moor lifted themselves out of the bottom two where they have been replaced by Crossflatts, who they defeated by 18 runs.

Lightcliffe racked up 375-8 in the 194-run win over rock-bottom Wakefield St Michael’s.

Great Preston are only 11 points above the relegation positions after their four-wicket defeat at Hunslet Nelson.

Finally, Hopton Mills crushed Northowram Fields by 132 runs.

Scholes leapfrogged over Adwalton into second place in Division Three after beating them by five wickets.

Rodley recorded only their third win of the season, winning by five wickets against East Leeds after bowling out their opponents for 144.

Crossbank Methodists are still searching for their first win after being bowled out for 108 in their seven-wicket defeat by Heckmondwike & Carlinghow.

Leaders Liversedge proved too good for improving Altofts as they raced to an 86-run win, but near neighbours Brighouse lost by six wickets to Spen Victoria after being bowled out for just 111.

Finally, the Gildersome & Farnley Hill batsmen had fun in the sun as they compiled a score of 382-7, which helped their side to a massive 214-run win over Windhill & Daisy Hill.