5:01pm Tuesday 11th August 2009
By John Wray
Luke Waters hit 95 to steer Tong Park Esholt to a six-wicket win over Aire-Wharfe League Division Two leaders Thackley.
The defeat means Thackley gave way to Pool, who crushed Follifoot, but it was not disastrous because Illingworth, the third club in the race for promotion, were also defeated, going down by six wickets at Harden, Thackley set a good target, Amer Raza (94), Mick Birts (58) and Mahir Ali (44no) helping them to 227 for six but with Waters and Jason Wilkinson (40) leading the way, Park clinched their third win in four starts in the penultimate over.
Phil Leng (4-19) and Lee Spragg, who took three for 15 in 3.2 overs, dismissed Illingworth for 143 and Leigh Booth (51) and David Dawson (48no) headed the reply as Harden clinched their second win in a row against top-four opposition to put themselves 12 points above the relegation zone with five games to go.
With mid-table guaranteed, Upper Wharfedale and Steeton played out a high-scoring draw.
Four players – James Freebury, Andrew Foulds, Dave Eggleton and Justin Graham – were out in the sixties as Wharfedale raced to 285 for four, while Richard Atkins (114) and John Akrigg (47) were the stars of Steeton’s 246 for seven reply.
Bolton Villas went back to the top of Division Three with a win over Woodhouse, while overnight leaders Olicanian could only manage four points against Skipton.
Chris Spivey was the Villas hero, taking nine for 76 and catching the other victim as the visitors were dismissed for 141. Lee Margerison (50) and Danny Gaunt (76no) clinched the win.
Jamie Hudson (43no) top-scored in Olicanian’s 199 for six, but, despite the efforts of Bernard Hughes (4-48) and Matt House (3-40), Skipton still had two wickets to spare at the end, Kevin Owens being their leading batsman with 52.
Ilkley went back to third place, above Skipton, with a comfortable win over Addingham, largely thanks to Andrew Wheeler (4-45) and Tony Pattinson (59).
Horsforth edged local bragging rights in a draw at Hall Park. Ben Robinson hit an unbeaten century in their 232 for eight, Geoff Barker (4-48) and Craig Hobson (3-27) the main wicket-takers.
Barker then hit 71 not out in Park’s 190 for eight reply in which Kris Lewis took four for 54.
Ben Rhydding scraped home to a two-wicket win in a low-scoring match against Menston. Nick Smith (5-22) skittled out Menston for 73, but with Chris Baldwin following up his 28 not out with five for 16, the home side only just managed to win, Rawdon remain just six points behind Division One leaders Beckwithshaw after a comfortable win over Adel.
John Hughes (5-34) was instrumental in restricting the visitors to 140 for nine, and David Morgan (64no) saw Rawdon home in 27 overs.
Julian Thornhill (82no) was the hero as Calverley notched their first win of the season, beating Green Lane by three wickets.
Shane Franklin (5-49) helped dismiss Lane for 182 and Calverley knocked them off with five balls to spare.
David Brook (63no) and Mark Harrison (4-25) starred as Burley cruised to an eight-wicket win at Silsden, while Dale Tormey (51) top-scored for Otley as they beat Guiseley by 66 runs.
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