Ali's nine-wicket haul lifts Thackley

7:10pm Tuesday 17th June 2008

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Paceman Mahir Ali inspired Thackley to a fifth successive Aire-Wharfe League win, beating Ilkley by eight wickets and opening up a ten-point gap between themselves and third-placed Menston in DIVISION THREE.

Ali took a superb nine for 60 as Ilkley were bowled out for just 131, with Leon Harber (88no) then leading the successful run race. Ali’s latest devastating spell took him to 31 wickets at an average of 8.32 during Thackley’s recent run.

Despite Thackley’s sparkling form they still trail Illingworth by seven points after the leaders beat Hall Park by six wickets to maintain a 100 per cent record in which they have bowled out the opposition on every occasion.

The only team they have not beaten is struggling Addingham, who were saved by a rained-off match – but there was no salvation for the bottom club at Menston, whose three-wicket success was their fourth victory on the trot.

Charlie Dracup (4-57) and Owen Hughes (3-46) restricted Addingham to 187 for eight, Mike Atkinson top-scoring on 42.

Menston did not have it all their own way in reply but Abe Smith hit 38, Ryan Robinson added an unbeaten half-century and there were 30 extras.

Ajay Rajput’s fifth five-wicket spell in six games kept Bolton Villas to 191 for seven but the Skipton batting folded against the attack of Chris Spivey (5-36) and Shrey Datta (3-31) and they crashed to a third defeat in four outings. Ben Rhydding’s Nick Smith took six for 105 as Woodhouse raced to 272 but that proved too much for the visitors, whose last pair just managed to hang on for a point.

Horsforth were also glad to see their last pair survive but will not have been happy to only claim two points at second-bottom Alwoodley.

The DIVISION TWO promotion race is developing a similar pattern to the lower section, with Knaresborough opening up a seven-point lead as they trounced Tong Park by eight wickets after bowling them out for just 66.

Silsden jumped to second place after a run feast at rock-bottom New Rover, where Matthew Pinniger led the way with a second successive century.

His brilliant 163 contained 18 fours and three sixes and found good support from Chris Meehan (65no), Yasser Ali (54) and Tim Sugden (44) as Silsden declared on 353 for four, before Zeeshan Qasim (5-34) and Perves Khan (4-2) dismissed New Rover for 140.

Richard Atkins (119) and Andy Luxton (59) led another run race with an opening stand of 179 for Steeton at Calverley.

John Akrigg added 62 to set a tough-looking 245 for one target but the home side responded with spirit and an unbeaten 107 from Gareth Lee and 40 by Shahid Bashir, his best score since moving from Esholt, saw them fall only seven runs short of victory.

After last week’s blip, Upper Wharfedale returned to high-scoring form as Ben Way top-scored on 119 in a seasonal-best 272 for seven – but Bardsey also enjoyed the conditions and were comfortable on 244 for five at the close, restricting Wharfedale to four points.

Australian Nic Peterson (73) was the only Olicanian batsman to find an answer to Harden’s Steve Bateman, who took five for 53 as the visitors were dismissed for 138.

Lyndsey Scown hit 13 fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 87 to take Harden to their second win of the season and raise hopes of climbing out of the bottom two.

With Kirkstall Educational beating Beckwithshaw, Guiseley were able to move five points clear at the top of DIVISION ONE with a five-wicket win at Collingham.

Star of the show was Mark Ross with 66 not out, while John Ormesher’s four for 26 was his best spell since moving from Harrogate.

Rawdon move up to second spot after they beat North Leeds by three wickets with nine overs to spare, Chris Boden (41) and Denis Rock (37no) leading the charge past the home side’s 156.

Neil Davies’s six for 52 helped restrict Pool to 161 for nine but Burley could not take advantage and were bowled out for 112 to find themselves level on points with their opponents and just six clear of bottom side Collingham.

Otley slipped up by six wickets at Bilton, where veteran Miles Corish top-scored with 43, while Green Lane went down by 22 runs at Adel despite a spell of four for 42 by Istikhar Hussain.