MATTHEW Hall hoisted a six to give Thackley victory over third-placed Adel and lift themselves off the bottom of Division Two of the Aire-Wharfe League.

The timely blow also took his side’s total to 150-5, earning a second batting bonus point that could be significant at the end of the season, with all six clubs in the bottom half of the table still in the relegation mix.

Bradley Goodaire had earlier set up the win with a 12-over spell of 7-40 as promotion-chasing Adel were dismissed for 145.

Thackley had a few hiccups during the run chase, losing two wickets at 66 and again at 100, but opener Josh Brooksbank (76no) and Hall (27no) put on 50 to clinch the game.

Thackley’s move would have been more decisive but for several of the teams around them also doing well as batsmen took charge in what has largely been a bowlers’ season so far.

Green Lane’s hopes of catching the front-runners looked set for a boost when Michael Abbott (71) and Waleed Akhtar (58) helped them to 251-7 but Skipton’s opening pair Richard Nichols (142) and Ben Holderness (85) put on 225, setting up a seven-wicket win.

Tom Cummins hit 116 in 101 balls and put on 127 with Andrew Wear (62) in Harden’s 270-7 before Scott Hartley (5-41) and new signing Paul Quinlan (3-65) bowled out Knaresborough for 237.

Tong Park Esholt skipper Ross Todd (61) led the way in his side’s season-best 296-7 total, and Nadeem Hanif picked up four wickets to dismiss Upper Wharfedale for 250.

Not even a century seventh-wicket stand between Junaid Bashir (92) and Sam Lawrence (43no) could get Bolton Villas to North Leeds’ 306-7, which included an unbeaten century from Rob Winter.

Otley convincingly overcame Guiseley and, with their nearest rivals both losing, opened up a 12-point lead at the top of Division One.

James Davies (74) and David Hester (56), their new signing from Lightcliffe, put on 108 in Otley’s 297-6 before Davies took Guiseley apart with a 5-22 spell.

Burley’s title hopes took a knock at Steeton, where a half-century from Mark Taylor helped the home side to 259-8 before Stephen Pearson (5-36) and Jonathan Best (4-73) made sure of the win, despite the efforts of Ed Brown (86).

Defending champions Beckwithshaw continue to threaten after a poor start to the campaign, Ilkley being their latest victims, bowled out for 133 in reply to 207-7.

Andrew Doidge (81) and Conor McInerney (64) put up a spirited response but Rawdon were nine short of victory at Kirkstall at the close and remain in the bottom two with Ben Rhydding, who lost by nine wickets at Pool despite Charlie Swallow’s 62.

Addingham produced the performance of the day in Division Three, Calvin Hewitt (86) starring as they beat second-placed Illingworth by ten runs.

With Ryan Sharrocks (52) and Larry Edward (5-34) leading the way, front-runners Horsforth beat Alwoodley to open up a 19-point gap at the top.

A half-century from Julian Thornhill couldn’t prevent third-placed Calverley being beaten at Hall Park, where they succumbed to the bowling of Jonathan Postle (4-32) and Ally Walshaw (3-27).

The one place batsmen didn’t enjoy the day was at Menston. Travis Rio (4-32) and Gareth Lee (3-6) skittled Olicanian for 86, only for the home side to manage just 60 in reply against the attack of Syed Hashmi (6-17) and Bernard Hughes (4-35).

Majid Inayat (45) and Muhammad Waqas (45) were the main contributors to Silsden’s 157 total but Bardsey overhauled them with four wickets in hand.