A fine all-round display from Taylor Cornall helped Methley to ease fears of getting dragged into a relegation scrap in the Premier Division of the Bradford Cricket League.

Cornall was in good form with bat and ball as his side defeated Cleckheaton by 17 runs in an entertaining encounter to put themselves 29 points clear of the bottom two.

After choosing to bat first Methley started confidently with a 38-run opening stand from 5.2 overs before Kyle Welsh was out for 17.

Fellow opener Cornall (48) then combined with Kris Ward (40) for a further 65-run partnership to take the team past the 100 mark in the 20th over.

Taylor Cornall hit 48 runs and took five wickets in Methley's win over Cleckheaton. Picture: Methley CC

placeholder image — Taylor Cornall hit 48 runs and took five wickets in Methley's win over Cleckheaton. Picture: Methley CC

Although both fell the platform had been laid and Alex Cree, with 62 from 68 balls, and Bailey Worcester (60no from 61 deliveries) capitalised to push the score up to an eventual 273-7 from the 50 overs.

Cleckheaton are a dangerous batting side and came close to chasing down the runs required, but ran out of overs as their reply ended on 256-9 with Cornall following up his batting effort with an impressive 5-60 from 15 overs. Ben Waite also claimed 3-67.

With leaders Woodlands losing, Townville missed out on a chance to go top of the Premier as they agonisingly lost to New Farnley.

Reigning champions Farnley went to the top on net run rate after their one-run success against an unlucky Townville side – who were to get revenge in the T20 Blast final a day later.

In the league encounter, Fletcher Coutts produced one of the innings of the season for the new leaders as he smashed an unbeaten 110 from only 82 balls to lead a rescue act after Farnley had been reduced to 82-4.

Usman Arshad did most to restrict them with 4-51 for Townville who have lost a key player with all-rounder Conor Harvey suffering a broken hand.

Townville lost two early wickets in their reply, but looked on course for a vital victory as Sanoj Darshika (61) and skipper Jonny Booth (39) set about rebuilding the innings then in-form Jack Hughes came in to hit a superb 86, including 11 fours and two sixes.

With Usman Arshad also contributing 50 the momentum continued, but they agonisingly finished on 265-9.

With 16 needed off the final over Townville almost pulled their chase off after Arshad hit a six off the first ball. However, he was out to a stunning catch on the boundary from the next delivery and although Tom Chippendale also smashed another six, last man Liam Booth could only manage a single from the final ball to leave his side agonisingly just short.

The Division Two promotion race also took another dramatic turn as leaders Great Preston suffered a five-wicket defeat at Bowling Old Lane.

After being put in they collapsed from 60-1 to 132 all out with opener Sohail Ahmed (36) top scoring.

Old Lane did lose five wickets in their reply, but reached their target by the 22nd over despite 3-29 from Willem Meintjes.

Preston remain top, but their lead over Keighley is now down to six points with Bowling Old Lane a further five points back in third

Streethouse were bowled out for 159 and lost by eight wickets to Altofts in their Division Two match.

They had looked set for a much bigger score with Zamurad Khan hitting an aggressive 62, including seven sixes. Matthew Gibson also hit 25 and fellow opener Dishane Rodrigo 21, but they collapsed from 111-1 as Saif Tahir (6-32) did most of the damage.