WAKEFIELD St Michael's scored a dramatic one-wicket win over Buttershaw St Paul's in The All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Two which enabled them to capitalise on Keighley's 29-run defeat at Hopton Mills.

An unbroken last-wicket stand of 56 between Mark Atkinson (95no) and Chris Thornton (23no) enabled St Michael’s to overhaul St Paul’s score of 238 with a boundary from the final ball.

Until Atkinson found a defiant partner in Thornton it looked as if Ben Platt (4-73) and Amer Ayoub (4-63) were bowling St Paul’s to victory.

Defeat was hard on Ayoub because he enjoyed an outstanding match. Earlier he made 93 and was joined by Adil Mehmood (71) in a seventh-wicket stand of 164 which rescued St Paul’s from 57-6.

The dramatic win saw St Michael’s close to within four points of Keighley who suffered their second-successive defeat.

Hopton Mills laid down the challenge to the promotion chasers by making 183-7 thanks to 91 from opener Chris Scott and 76 from Umer Abbas.

Keighley were dealt a series of key blows when Mick Carroll (5-54) wiped out much of their front-line batting.

Paul Quinlan (47no), Hammy Shahzad (39) and Richard Gould (33) were the top scorers as their side were dismissed for 254.

The pressure is certainly growing on Keighley because Birstall are now just 12 points behind them after their three-wicket win over Northowram Fields that was secured with four balls to spare.

Rishy Limbechaya hit an unbeaten 96 to steer his side home after openers Ian Carradice (39) and Eric Austin (35) had set a firm foundation in pursuit of Northowram’s 269-8.

Ajantha Weerappuli continued his good form with 68 while John Lister scored 54 against a bowling attack led by Ryan Gray (5-58).

Bowling Old Lane continued their good form with a 39-run win over East Ardsley. Amjid Hussain (74) and Ayyaz Akram (50) helped them to 269-8 despite the good work of Louie Hurley (5-61).

East Ardsley made 230-7 in reply with Ashley Pearson scoring 72 and Ashley Chapman 57no.

East Ardsley are now just four points above the relegation positions which are currently occupied by Spen Victoria and Liversedge, who both lost.

Altofts pair Danny Eden and Tom Glover were key as their side secured a two-wicket win at Spen Victoria.

Glover took (3-38) and Eden (3-40) as Spen were restricted to 130-9 in their 50 overs. Josh Fell top-scored with 35 for Spen, who must have fancied their chances when Azaad were 77-8 but Glover (25no) and Eden (22no) saw their side home with an undefeated ninth-wicket stand of 54.

Opener Steve Cooper led the way with 95 as Carlton chased down Liversedge’s score of 215 to secure a five-wicket win. Scott Douglas (46) and Daniel White (32) gave good support.

Liversedge had built their total around Alan Sumner (64), Asif Yousaf (35) and Mark Hydes (34) as Armaan Hussain took 4-54 and Usman Shaka (3-33).