Bradford League: Lambert leads way for leaders

Lambert struck four sixes and 10 fours as part of an unbeaten 110 as the division’s leaders piled on 252-4 with captain Lee Goddard also making 50 against his former club.

David Cummings also weighed in with 31 and East Bierley were then dismissed for just 73 as Ajmal Shahzad (4-13) and Andrew Brewster caused chaos with their bowling.

New Farnley sit 11 points clear of second-placed Farsley, who recorded a 23-run triumph at home to relegation-battling Scholes, who threatened to defeat their opponents for the second time this season.

Farsley limped to 128-7 with Dan Hodgson’s 33 the best it got until tail-ender Matthew Lumb came to the fore with a vital unbeaten knock of 48, including five sixes that hauled his men to 187-8.

Scholes bowler James Stansfield, who had taken 4-45, then added 33 with the willow after an earlier good effort from Shoukat Ali (36).

But the bowling damage caused by Yorkshire duo James Wainman (4-62) and James Logan (3-43) proved decisive as Scholes were were ultimately dismissed for 164.

Farsley are five points ahead of third-placed Pudsey St Lawrence, whose opener, Mark Robertshaw, bagged a first century of the season in an 84-run verdict at home to sixth-placed Woodlands.

Nine fours and three sixes were dished out as Robertshaw made 102 with Saints posting a target of 235-7 as teenager Harry Cullingford chipped in with a knock of 32.

Woodlands bowler Chis Brice took 3-45 but his side then fell well short at 151 all out with only Tim Jackson (35) and No 9 batsman Kez Ahmed (30no) making an impression.

Yorkshire’s Jordan Thompson (3-26) proved the Saints’ most effective bowler, fresh from making his Tykes debut in the T20 blast against Worcester.

Defending champions Hanging Heaton are five points behind the Saints in fourth after scraping their way to a four-wicket win at eighth-placed Townville.

Last year’s Bradford League winners were dismissed for 206 with Townville’s overseas player Shahid Nawaz taking 5-57, including Ben Kohler-Cadmore (30), who offered chief support to top-scorer Ishmail Dawood (57).

Townville looked on course for victory at 113-4 but the hosts lost their last six wickets for 88 as they were dismissed for 201.

The efforts of Richie Bresnan (56) and Connor Harvey (32) ultimately failed to achieve the desired result with David Stiff (3-42) the pick of the Hanging Heaton bowlers.

Methley are 17 points behind Hanging Heaton in fourth after falling to a 90-run loss at in-form Cleckheaton, who are up to seventh.

Cleck’ followed up their wins over New Farnley and Pudsey St Lawrence with another impressive display with opener Toby Thorpe blasting 11 fours as part of his knock of 83, which set the tone.

Tayyab Tahir (32) and John Wood (59) also got rolling with Wood caning six fours and four sixes in his rapid contribution off 32 balls, which saw Cleckheaton to 272-8 despite the efforts of Sohail Raz (5-70) who eventually trapped Wood leg before.

Raz then top scored with 37 for Methley but Nick Walker took 5-54 with Yorkshire player Tom Kohler-Cadmore also taking four fine catches as the visitors were sent packing for 182 all out.

Perhaps the day’s best individual performance came from Lightcliffe’s overseas player Suleman Khan, whose ninth-placed side kicked clear of the drop zone with a 94-run triumph at home to second from bottom Bradford & Bingley.

Lightcliffe lost four of their top five batsmen for single figures and two of them for ducks but Khan smashed seven sixes and 10 fours as part of a fine offering of 115 that followed an earlier 62 from Rhys Jowett.

Despite the bowling of Jack Hartley (4-44) and Bradley Reeve (4-79), Lightcliffe were subsequently able to make their way to 256 all out and Khan then took 5-28 as the Bees were tumbled for 162.

Jonathan Whitehead top-scored with 42.