BATLEY are the new leaders of Bradford Premier League Championship One after defeating Hartshead Moor by 59 runs to take advantage of Bankfoot’s 48-run defeat at Morley.

Tariq Hussain proved to be their match winner with 5-28 as Hartshead Moor were bowled out for 117. Earlier, Sufyan Patel (42) and Mohammed Bhoola (37no) had helped Batley to 176-9 despite the efforts of Adam Greenwood (3-28) and Josh Tingle (3-47).

Batley now have 178 points and are seven ahead of Bankfoot who were bowled out for just 58 as they suffered only their third defeat of the season.

Morley spinners Akash Senarathna (5-28) and David Nebard (4-9) turned the game their side’s way in dramatic style.

A victory for third-placed Morley seemed unlikely when they were dismissed for 106 after being put in to bat. Jawad Waheed (6-45) and Andrew Stothart (3-25) did the damage.

Pudsey Congs moved up to fourth after an impressive eight-wicket win over Wakefield St Michael’s. The victory was set up by their teenage left-arm spinner Sam Wisniewski who took 6-45 as St Michael’s were bowled out for 168. Only Adil Mehmood (36) resisted for long.

Congs’ talented young batsman Vikram Sharma produced another crucial innings for his side. He made 88 not out and joined skipper James Ford (53no) in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 130.

Baildon returned to winning ways with a 106-run success against a Scholes side currently 39 points adrift at the bottom.

Opener Will Grace (56) set Baildon on their way to a total of 289-3 but the real fireworks came from the fourth-wicket pair of Dwayne Heke (98no) and Blair Oakley (88no). Together they shared an undefeated partnership of 193 with Heke just missing out on a century.

Scholes never looked like challenging the Baildon score but battling half-centuries from Neil Kellett (57no) and Shahid Rehman (52) saw them finish on 183-6.

Ossett recovered from 57-7 to make 163 as they defeated East Bierley by 32 runs and climbed out of the bottom two.

Opener Oliver Newton (63) finally found a solid partner in Paul Malone (66) as they countered the threat of Umar Farooq (4-56) and gave their bowlers a total to defend.

Max Chappell (4-25), Dan Busfield (3-36) and Mushy Rafique (3-44) responded to the challenge and dismissed East Bierley for 131. Only overseas player Ompal Boken (39) offered prolonged resistance.

One-time leaders Keighley now find themselves in the bottom half after their slide continued with a 54-run defeat against Gomersal.

Overseas player Alex Antoine (4-46 and 37) was the only one to make an impression as Gomersal picked up a welcome triumph. Jonathan Boynton (58) top scored in Gomersal’s 183-9 while spinners Chris Rhodes (4-21) and Chris Greenwood (4-34) turned the screw as Keighley were bowled out for 129.