STUNNING centuries from opener Nick Lindley (112no) and overseas player Tayab Tahir (103) powered Cleckheaton to their first All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Premier Division win of the campaign yesterday.

Together they shared a third-wicket stand of 142 as their side powered past Methley’s score of 270-9 with 8.5 overs to spare and six wickets in hand.

Lindley made his runs from 96 balls with three sixes and 15 fours, while Tayub scored at an even quicker rate, with his 103 coming from just 58 deliveries and including six sixes and 11 fours.

Methley, who were without their skipper Grant Soames, the suspended Marcus Walmsley and young spinner Harry Sullivan, could not contain the Cleckheaton batsmen, despite the efforts of Sohail Raz (3-61).

The Methley total had been built around the contributions of stand-in captain Dan Shuffe (70), Jordan Laban (67) and Dave Winter (45). Shuffe and Laban shared a third-wicket stand of 107.

The best of the Cleckheaton bowlers were opener Jonathan Whiteoak (3-48) and spinner Andrew Deegan (3-60).

Like Methley, Pudsey St Lawrence, and Farsley also suffered their first defeats, leaving champions Hanging Heaton as the only unbeaten team.

Pudsey St Lawrence’s winning run came to an end as Woodlands defeated them by five wickets in the first game played on the newly- relaid square are Tofts Road.

The home side’s batsmen found the going tough as they slumped to 48-8 after electing to bat first.

Left-armer Muhammad Bilal (3-14), spinner Chris Brice (3-15) and paceman Elliot Richardson (3-41) enjoyed themselves as they made Saints struggle.

Charlie Best was the only one of the first eight batsmen to make double figures, and the eventual total of 93 was only achieved due to the efforts of tail-enders Charlie Parker (20) and Steve Watts (14).

Sam Frankland (30) gave Woodlands a bright start before spinners Chris Marsden (3-19) and Archie Scott (2-18) sparked a collapse which saw five wickets fall for seven runs.

Woodlands looked in trouble at 48-5, but young Jack McGahan soon steadied their nerves with an unbeaten 38 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 50 with wicket-keeper Greg Finn (14no).

Farsley suffered a 127-run defeat at newly-promoted Scholes.

Opening bowler Yasir Ali impressed again with 6-38, while Haris Mohammad took 3-46 as Farsley were dismissed for 88 in reply to Scholes' total of 215-9.

The foundations for Scholes’ second win of the campaign were laid by their third-wicket pair of Kasir Maroof, who made a superb 96, and Sam Gatenby (50).

Together they added 126 after their side had lost two early wickets.

Chris Henry (3-53) was the best of the Farsley bowlers.

Half-centuries from opener Nick Connolly (84) and Callum Geldart (54) enabled Hanging Heaton to build a match-winning total of 263 against Townville, despite the efforts of Conor Harvey (5-46).

Harvey, winner of the Gordon Bowers Young Cricketer Award for the past two seasons, followed up by scoring 54 in Townville’s spirited reply of 227-9.

Richie Bresnan (51no) weighed in with late runs which at least earned his side maximum batting points.

The win enabled Hanging Heaton to establish a 12-point lead over New Farnley, who left East Bierley still searching for their first win after a 141-run defeat.

Steve Bullen, New Farnley’s new wicket-keeper, led the way with a fine 97 from 83 balls, which included two sixes and 14 fours.

He was joined in a fourth-wicket stand of 111 by Aidan Langley, who made 55 as New Farnley posted a score of 251-6.

Ibrar Younis (35no) and Ross Monaghan (23) were the only batsmen to make double figures as East Bierley were bowled out for 110.

Opening bowlers Alex Lilley (3-20) and Martin Andersson (3-23) did the early damage, while spinner Dave McCallum (3-9) wrapped up the innings.

East Bierley are now propping up the table and are 12 adrift of second-from-bottom Bradford & Bingley, who are the only other team without a win.

Even a determined 74 from skipper Matthew Duce and 39 from new boy Ed Brown couldn’t save them from defeat by 45 runs against a Lightcliffe side tasting victory for the first time this season.

Spinners Suleman Khan (4-38) and Danyaal Ahmed (3-61) held the key to Lightcliffe’s success as Bradford & Bingley were bowled out for 203.

The Lightcliffe innings featured a telling contribution of 70 from Khan after the top three of Alex Stead (34), Josh Wheatley (33) and Niall Lockley (32) had all made useful contributions to a total of 248-7.