South African Louren Steenkamp announced his arrival on the Gordon Rigg Bradford Premier League scene with a classy innings of 90 as he helped Bradford & Bingley secure their second win of the new campaign.
The 172-run Premier Division victory over Pudsey Congs will have tasted sweet for Rishi Chopra, who made 58 against his former club, and shared in a crucial fifth wicket stand of 123 with Steenkamp, to help his side post a total of 240-7.
Jamie Allen was the best of the Congs bowlers with 3-54 but his efforts were overshadowed by young seamer Jack Luxton, who took 5-25 as the home side crumbled to 68 all out.
Bradford & Bingley sit third as one of only three Premier Diision clubs to boast a 100 per cent record so far this season, with Woodlands and New Farnley the others.
Champions Woodlands proved too strong for winless Ossett as they eased to a 68-run victory.
Tim Jackson (86) in a score of 209-8 before skipper Brad Schmulian picked up 3-39 as Ossett were dismissed for 141.
Woodlands top the early table with 39 points, two clear of New Farnley, 142-run winners over Pudsey St Lawrence, and four ahead of Bradford & Bingley.
New Farnley scored 224 against Saints in a match reduced to 43 overs per side.
That was due to a dramatic start to the match which saw Josh Priestley fall to the ground after delivering the second ball of the game, a delay ensuing as a wet area was dried up.
St Lawrence were soon in trouble when they batted, and wickets fell at regular intervals as they were dismissed for 82, with Yasir Abbas taking 3-16 on his home debut.
Townville’s Chris Holliday and Farsley’s Joe Pocklington became the first players to score centuries in the Premier Division this season.
Holliday’s 113, which contained two sixes and 12 fours, helped his side make 309-6 in their 84-run win over Jer Lane at Park Avenue.
Jer Lane never threatened to win the game, but they did manage to secure maximum batting points before being bowled out for 225, Hamza Iqbal their top scorer with 61 not out.
Pocklington’s 109, his maiden Bradford Premier League century, enabled Farsley to make 301-5 in their 163-run win over Cleckheaton.
Once overseas player Yousaf Baber was dismissed for 30 there was only going to be one outcome as Cleckheaton tumbled to 138 all out, with Pocklington rounding off a fine day by claiming 3-20 with his left arm spin.
Undercliffe claimed their first win as they overcame Methley by five wickets, with Danish Hussain (53) helping his side chase down the visitors’ score of 193-7.
When Methley batted first, the experienced Zeeshan Qasim (4-39) was again the key bowler for Undercliffe.
In Division One, skipper James Glynn took 4-22 as Carlton bowled out Hanging Heaton for 89 to complete a 157-run win which takes them to the top of the table.
The success was set up by a solid batting performance which saw them post a total of 246-8. Opener
Carlton have 39 points and are two ahead of Baildon who secured a 45-run win at Batley.
Spinners Cameron Sharp (5-42) and Seif Hussain (3-28) joined forces as Batley were bowled out for 151.
Jonny Reynolds (71) and skipper Kevin McDermott (51) both made half centuries earlier in the day as Baildon posted a total of 196.
Morley are a further two points back in third place after following up their one-wicket win over Hanging Heaton with a six-run win at Sandal.
Birstall bowled out Bowling Old Lane for 157 to complete an emphatic 109-run win.
Hartshead Moor versus Bankfoot and Yeadon against East Bierley were both abandoned.
Hunslet Nelson are the early leaders of Division Two after their seven-wicket win over Crossflatts.
Gomersal also secured their second win of the season as they defeated newly promoted Altofts by 26 runs.
Keighley spinner Daanyaal Ahmed produced the day’s best bowling figures of 7-22 as he helped his side defeat Heckmondwike & Carlinghow by four wickets.
After bowling out Heckmondwike & Carlinghow for 124, Keighley slumped to 55-6 before Lucas Keslinke (44no) and Noah Thirkill (21no) saw them home impressively.
Hopton Mills lost by four wickets against Lightcliffe in a close-fought encounter that the latter only won with three balls of the game to spare.
Buttershaw St Paul’s looked in deep trouble when they slipped to 14-5, but they recovered to make 152 as they defeated Northowram Fields by 21 runs.
Terry Briggs led their recovery with 55 and that innings proved vital when Northowram collapsed to lose their last seven wickets for just 31 runs, Bobby Powell (4-28) and Amjad Minhas (4-23) doing the damage.
Scholes picked up their first win as they overcame East Ardsley by 76 runs.
Bradford Premier League newcomers Streethouse had an afternoon to forget in Division Three, as they were dismissed for just 59 on their way to a nine-wicket defeat away to table-topping Great Preston.
The Streethouse total was not the lowest of the day because Liversedge were bowled out for 57 in a 128-run defeat at Spen Victoria.
One bright spot for Liversedge was that overseas player Brijesh Dhangar took 5-27 on his debut when his side bowled first.
Another team suffering batting woes were Windhill & Daisy Hill, who were bundled out for 61 as they crashed to a nine-wicket defeat against Brighouse.
Adwalton pulled off a one-wicket home win over Gildersome & Farnley Hill in a nail-biting finish.
Opener Will Cutt guided Adwalton the hosts to victory with an unbeaten 69, as they successfully chased down Gildersome & Farnley Hill’s total of 184.
Matty Waller (5-22) and James Colbourn (3-47) did good work with the ball for Adwalton to restrict their visitors to under 200.
Wakefield St Michael’s secured a five-wicket win over Wrenthorpe, while the game between Crossbank Methodists and East Leeds was abandoned.
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