BANKFOOT are the new Bradford Premier League Championship One leaders after their 122-run win over Wakefield St Michael’s, with Morley just one point behind them.

Hamzah Iqbal (44) and Adam Wainwright (36) helped Bankfoot post 240-9 before skipper James Lee took his tally of wickets for the season to 25 with 4-37 as St Michael’s were bowled out for 118.

Morley made sure there was no happy ending for Baildon’s veteran spinner Mushtaq Ahmed on the day when he took his 1,000th Bradford League wicket.

Morley triumphed by 175 runs with their Sri Lankan all-rounder Akash Senerathna making a maiden century as well as taking 4-15 with his left-arm spin.

After Ahmed had become the 14th player to pass 1,000 wickets when he had Henry Rush caught at slip by Simon Bailey, Senerathna took centre stage.

He hit four sixes and eight fours while making 103 to help his side to a total of 201. Aussie Blair Oakley was the most successful bowler with 3-27.

Baildon’s innings never got going and they were bowled out for 76 as Senerathna and fellow spinner Dave Nebard (4-21) got to work.

Batley are now third, nine points behind Morley, after beating Gomersal by 146 runs. Opener Faisal Javed hit a fine 101 and shared a second-wicket stand of 139 with Kasir Maroof (53) which provided the foundations for a score of 265-6.

Gomersal found the going tough against the bowling of Mohammad Shahnawaz (4-27) and Tariq Hussain (3-26) as they were dismissed for 119. Skipper Richard Wear (30) was their top scorer.

East Bierley are fourth, a further three points back after they defeated previous leaders Keighley, who have now dropped to fifth after two successive losses.

Even a defiant 51 from Jonathan Wilkinson and 38 from Richard Gould couldn’t save Keighley from a 42-run defeat as they were bowled out for 121. Umar Farooq posed many of the problems as he took 5-58.

Overseas player Ompal Boken had produced another important contribution when East Bierley batted first. He made 53 and helped them to make 163 despite some good bowling from James Rogers (5-34).

Max Chappell produced a match-winning spell of 6-22 to help Ossett defeat his old side Pudsey Congs by 128 runs.

Only skipper James Ford (69) made a significant impression as Congs were dismissed for 128 in reply to Ossett’s 256-4.

Half-centuries from Jack McGahan (86) and Chris Hosley (54) made up the bulk of Ossett’s runs. Liam Stanhope was best Congs bowler with 3-51.

Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan made his home debut for Hartshead Moor and helped them to a 10-wicket win over bottom team Scholes.

Bresnan (3-31) and new-ball partner Iain Wardlaw (4-28) made their mark as Scholes were all out for just 99. Hartshead Moor were powered to victory by an undefeated opening stand of 100 between Chris Wynd (64no) and skipper Adam Greenwood (35no).