Joe Greaves hit a century but could not save leaders Farsley from their second JCT600 Bradford League defeat of the season as the Division Two promotion battle gathered pace.

Three sixes and 14 fours helped Greaves to 102 but he lacked support as his side went down by 61 runs to Keighley. They were dismissed for 191 replying to the visitors’ 252-9.

Ross Towler was the man who scuppered Farsley’s hopes with 4-47 after Amjid Hussain (66) had impressed with the bat for mid-table Keighley.

Farsley still head the table by 34 points despite their defeat because second-placed Spen Victoria suffered a second successive loss as fellow promotion contenders Yeadon won by 95 runs.

Rob Burton, the division’s leading wicket-taker, produced another good spell to take 6-29 as Spen bowled out Yeadon for 170, a total boosted by Tariq Mehboob (34) and Oliver Halliday (32) down the order.

Spen’s batting then crumbled as they were bowled out for just 75, with left-arm spinner Ben Elvidge taking 5-22.

Yeadon are now just nine points behind Spen Victoria and one adrift of third-placed New Farnley, who defeated Hartshead Moor by 74 runs.

Five batsmen made scores of 30 or more as New Farnley built a total of 240-8 (Martin Riley 4-48) before dismissing their opponents for 166.

Former New Farnley player Will Smith made 49 for Hartshead Moor to provide the highlight of their innings.

Undercliffe are handily placed to challenge if any of the top four slip up after their eight-wicket win over Bankfoot.

Opener Hamid Khan made an unbeaten 81 as his side overhauled Bankfoot’s total of 137 (Nawaz Sardar 4-20).

Skipper Neil Nicholson had been the mainstay of the Bankfoot innings with 54 and in the process passed 12,000 Bradford League runs.

Ahsan Butt made an unbeaten 104 which enabled Bowling Old Lane to defeat his old club Windhill by eight wickets, racing past their 266-8 total with 11 overs to spare.

Skipper Amjid Hussain (82) and overseas player Devraj Patel (54no) also played key parts in the successful run chase.

The highlights of the Windhill innings were a knock of 80 by Jack Holland and 60 from overseas player Fakhar Hussain (60).

Gomersal first-wicket pair Andy Gorrod (104no) and Richard Gould (84) shared a partnership of 162 as they helped secure a nine-wicket win over Idle, who had been led to 225-9 by Nik Cumming (107).

Great Horton were bowled out for 90 by Brighouse as they suffered their 17th defeat in as many games. Brighouse were 139-run winners after posting 229 thanks to opener Zahir Hussain (86no) and Zafar Jadoon (55).