It was a day of thrilling finishes in the Bradford Premier League top flight with Lightcliffe and Cleckheaton both winning in the final over while leaders Woodlands extended their advantage at the top to 31 points with victory over Pudsey St Lawrence.

Lightcliffe hauled themselves out of the bottom two with a stunning two-wicket win at Hanging Heaton where they chased down a total of 277-8 to win by two wickets with two balls to spare.

Yasir Abbas smashed 73 from 64 balls and was joined in a crucial eight-wicket stand of 63 with Rob Burton (22no). Christian Silkstone (48) and David Knight (43) also made important contributions before Abbas cut loose, hitting two sixes and nine fours.

Hanging Heaton skipper Gary Fellows hit 51 – his first half-century of the season – while Callum Bethel (47) and David Stiff (41) gave late impetus to their side’s innings. Off-spinner Josh Wheatley took 4-86 for Lightcliffe.

Hanging Heaton, who started the day level on points with defending champions Pudsey St Lawrence, actually took sole possession of second place despite their defeat. That was because the Saints went down to a four-wicket defeat at Woodlands.

St Lawrence were made to pay for not batting out their overs as they were bowled out for 173 with 15 balls still remaining. That failing was highlighted when Woodlands achieved victory with 13 balls to spare.

Opener Mark Robertshaw (56) top scored for St Lawrence on an afternoon when his colleagues were unable to up the tempo against spinners Chris Brice (3-38) and Brad Schmulian (3-40).

Woodlands judged their run chase perfection with Liam Collins (42) and Brad Schmulian (34).

There was an even tighter finish at Moorend where Cleckheaton beat bottom-of-the-table Methley by two wickets with one ball to spare.

Methley looked to be well-placed to secure their first win when they reduced the hosts to 66-6, with former Cleck all-rounder Marcus Walmsley (3-28) and Sohail Raz (3-36) posing problems.

The complexion of the game was changed by a seventh-wicket stand of 102 between Nick Walker (63) and Toby Thorpe (32) which enabled the home side to edge past Methley’s score of 178.

Methley’s innings saw opener Adal Islam (43), Jake Smartt (33) and Raz provide the bulk of their runs as former Durham and Lancashire paceman John Wood took 4-18 and Craig Fletcher (4-43).

Bradford & Bingley returned to winning ways with a 47-run win over out-of-sorts New Farnley. Even a last-wicket stand of 53 between Alex Lilley (49no) and Luke Jarvis (20) for last season’s runners-up couldn’t save their side from their third defeat of the season.

Lilley and Jarvis came together with their side 97-9 and they did at least enable to help them to a more respectable 150. Off-spinner Bradley Reeve took 4-31 as Bradford & Bingley comfortably defended their score of 197-9.

Opener Callam Goldthorp (72) and Kyme Tahirkeli (46) led the way for Bradford & Bingley as Jarvis (6-30) posed the main threat with his left-arm spin.

Farsley made it four wins in a row and ended Undercliffe’s recent revival as they triumphed by 35 runs.

Yorkshire spinner James Logan took his haul of wickets to 17 in the three matches he has played since returning from injury with 5-42 as Undercliffe were bowled out of 134 in reply to Farsley’s 169.

Opener Simon Lambert continued his form with 70 but lacked support from his Undercliffe colleagues.

Farsley’s innings was anchored by opener Chris Beech (63) as Sunny Matharu (5-26) proved to be the best of the Undercliffe bowlers.

Townville slipped into the bottom two despite beating their old Central Yorkshire League rivals Wrenthorpe by 14 runs.

Jonathan Booth (68) and Imran Rafique (38) led the way as Townville made 220-9 against a Wrenthorpe attack in which Khalil Khan took 3-46 and James Glynn (3-40).

Will Bates hit an unbeaten 71 for Wrenthorpe but ran out of partners as his side were bowled out for 206. Spinner Jack Hughes took 3-24.