DEFENDING champions and Division One leaders Ciroc were given a real scare at Westwood Park.

Raja's came within two runs of overhauling the visitors' score of 113-6 from their 16 overs (Hamzah Iqbal 50no, Bilal Ejaz 24).

After being 57-8, Raja's recovered thanks to tail-ender Mohammed Amraiz (26), but eventually fell just short of their target on 112-9 as Durham Academy spinner Adam Ahmed took 3-15.

Keeping up the pressure are Greenfield, whose seven-wicket victory over basement side Thornton at the Karmand Centre keeps them in second spot, just a point adrift of the leaders on eight points.

Tight bowling restricted Thornton to 95-6, with the only real resistance coming from Nikki Hutchinson (47). Greenfield then cruised to victory on 98-3 with 3.4 overs to spare (Sajad Ali 40, Adeel Ahmed 34).

A gap is beginning to open up between the top two and the rest as three teams share third spot on six points apiece. Dark horses Crossflatts are one of these and recorded their third win of the season at Shelf.

Mohammed Hussain's 50 not out helped Flatts to a competitive 128-5, and victory was assured as Shelf were bowled out for 99, with Bilal Hamid taking 4-19 and Zahir Abbas 3-13..

Joining Crossflatts and Raja's in joint third are inconsistent Denholme.

Batting first at Westfield Lane, they posted 116-5, assisted by some poor fielding from the home side, with contributions from Richard Wear (38), his brother Andy and Micky Hutchins (34) as Jon Robinson was the pick of the John Breare bowlers with 3-27.

John Breare looked on course for victory at 75-4 until Denholme, who began to hold their catches, reduced them to 104-8.

The Westfield Laners were still in with a shout, needing 11 from the final over with two wickets remaining, but up stepped captain Richard Wear to inflict a third final-over defeat of the season on the home side as they were bowled out for 106.

There's no stopping new boys Undercliffe in Division Two, and their emphatic 52-run victory over close rivals Great Horton Park Chapel moved them four points clear at the top on 11 points.

The Undercliffe batsman ran riot at Ewart Street as they posted 175-4 (after being 161-0) thanks to Jack Holland (52no), Michael Kelsey (50no) and Faheed Rehman (33).

Despite a spirited response from Park Chapel, they fell well short of their target, ending on 123-8 (Ryan Frankland-Martin 32, Blair Oakley 26, Adam Frost 3-11).

Fellow Bradford League outfit Buttershaw St Paul's moved up three places to second as they notched another big score, 166-5 (Luke Barker 52no, Matty Kellett 36, James Robson 35, Islam Khokhar 3-31) against Muff Field, who could only muster 88-6 (Alex Pearson 23) in reply, leaving the Sunnybank side still searching for their first Evening League success and firmly rooted to the foot of the table.

The shock of the day came at Riddlesden, where high-flying Azeems came unstuck against Halifax outfit Bradshaw. Setting the home side a modest 84-7 (Josh Firth 31), the visitors then proceeded to bowl Azeems out for just 78 off 15.4 overs, despite the best efforts of Zulfiqar Ali (24) as Firth completed a fine all-round performance by taking 4-16.

Another shock result came as Cross Roads and Daisy Hill recorded their second win in successive weeks in a close- run affair at Ingrow.

The home side seemed in control as they bowled out the visitors for 105 thanks to Dan Scott (3-18) and Lewis Hopkinson (3-21).

However, in reply, Ian Clayton took 5-15 as the Hainworth Lane side fell two runs short on 103-9 (Mark Price 32, Tom Mawer 31).

Tonight's fixtures are – Division One: Greenfield v Denholme, John Breare v Crossflatts, Shelf v Ciroc, Thornton v Raja's. Division Two: Great Horton Park Chapel v Cross Roads & Daisy Hill, Ingrow v Buttershaw St Paul's, Muff Field v Bradshaw, Undercliffe v Azeems.