BATLEY clinched their place in the second round of the Priestley Cup on countback after their clash at Hartshead Moor ended in a tie.

With both sides having been bowled out for 144, the outcome was decided on a comparison of scores in the first 10 overs of each innings. Batley came out on top 35-2 to 33-4.

Faisal Javed (45) was the mainstay of the Batley innings while Mohammad Khan (3-19) was the best of the Hartshead Moor bowlers.

Batley looked to be heading for a comfortable win when they reduced Hartshead Moor to 85-8 with Huzaifah Patel taking 4-31, but opener Chris Wynd finally found solid support in skipper Danny Squire.

Together they added 58 for the ninth wicket and took their side within two runs of victory before Wynd was trapped lbw for 72. When Squire was bowled by Awais Munir (3-21) one run later, the game was tied.

There was also a close finish in the clash between last year's two beaten semi-finalists with New Farnley beating Townville by six runs.

Two of New Farnley's younger players, batsman Billy Whitford and left-arm spinner Sam Barraclough played decisive roles in their team's success.

Whitford top scored with an unbeaten 88 in a New Farnley innings which also featured an important contribution of 39 from skipper Lee Goddard as they posted a total of 213-7.

Opener Jonathan Booth (60) and Jack Hughes (38) spearheaded the Townville run chase. The home side were also helped by the generous concession of 41 extras, but opening bowler Alex Lilley (4-28) and Barraclough (4-34) ensured that New Farnley bowled out their opponents for 207.

Methley, beaten finalists in 2017, saw off the challenge of Premier Division rivals Lightcliffe as they triumphed by 17 runs.

Adam Patel (74) and Marcus Walmsley (50) provided the impetus as Methley made 228 when they batted first. Skipper Ian Philliskirk (4-33) was the best of the Lightcliffe bowlers and he was also their top scorer with 53 as his side were dismissed for 211.

Holders Woodlands put their name in the hat for the next round with a comfortable 84-run win over Cleckheaton at Moorend.

The match showed just how quickly cricketing fortunes can change. Just 24 hours after Tim Jackson made 137no and Brad Schmulian (153no) during a league record partnership of 326, the two batsmen were dismissed for nought and five respectively.

Cleckheaton were unable to capitalise on dismissing them cheaply because wicketkeeper Greg Finn assumed the lead role with a knock of 78 as they made 196 despite the efforts of Andrew Deegan (3-31).

The Cleckheaton reply never got going and paceman Elliot Richardson (3-19) and Schmulian (3-51) helped bowl them out for 112.

Hanging Heaton skipper Gary Fellows hit the round's highest score of 132 as his side beat gutsy Bankfoot by 18 runs in a high-scoring encounter.

Fellows, who hit four sixes and 17 fours, was joined in an opening stand of 176 by Nick Connolly (77). With Ishmail Dawood chipping in with 39, Hanging Heaton reached 306-8. The best of the Bankfoot bowlers was Shanz Parangige (3-59).

Bankfoot were undaunted by the challenge facing them and made a rousing response. Arsaan Malik (76), Jawad Waheed (62), Daniel Colehan (46) and Hisan Ahmed (38) enabled their side to make 288 all out. Malik and Colehan shared a sixth-wicket stand of 95 which typified the battling spirit of the Championship One side.

Opening bowler Tom Chippendale killed off any hopes of an upset with figures of 5-32.

Bradford & Bingley came out on top in their all-Premier Division clash with Undercliffe. They won by six wickets with Kyme Tahirkeli (64), Ed Brown (55) and skipper Matthew Duce (39no) ensuring they overhauled Undercliffe's score of 175.

Fahid Rehman (50) and Scott Price (36) were their top scorers against a Bradford & Bingley bowling attack in which spinner Bradley Reeve (4-26), Dan Revis (3-33) and Jack Hartley (3-40) shared the wickets.

Oliver Halliday hit an unbeaten 97 to rescue Morley from 58-5 in their 66-run win over fellow Championship One side Wakefield St Michael's.

Halliday was joined in an important sixth-wicket stand of 82 by wicketkeeper Harvey Lockwood (38) after Ismail Patel (5-35) had posed problems to the top order.

Morley's eventual score of 211 proved too big a challenge for St Michael's. Their batting has been fragile in their past two league games so their score of 145-9 might be seen as a step in the right direction.

Opener Ryan Wilby (63) top scored before spinners Akash Senarathna (4-31) and David Nebard (3-51) sealed victory for Morley.