Naylor makes life tough for leaders

12:24pm Tuesday 1st July 2008

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A half-century from Paul Naylor helped Thackley achieve what no other side has done this season as they took Aire-Wharfe League points off Illingworth.

Naylor (56) and Mick Birts (40) were the main contributors as Thackley reached 183 for eight, the first time the DIVISION THREE leaders have failed to bowl out their opponents this year.

Illingworth never looked like reaching the target against the attack of Mahir Ali (4-65) and Martin Hanson (3-51) but managed to avoid outright defeat.

However, the four points picked up by Thackley moves them to within five of their rivals and underlines their credentials as promotion favourites.

The chasing pack was churned up, with Menston dropping from third to sixth after losing to Hall Park – their first defeat after a run of four wins.

Only Abe Smith (37) found any form with the bat as Menston succumbed to the bowling of Nadeem Hanif (7-63) and were dismissed for 122.

Amjid Hussain (49no) saw Park to victory despite the efforts of Smith, who took four for 33 in an eight-over spell.

Azhar Mahmood (49) and Gary Owens (44) were the star performers as Skipton took five points off bottom club Addingham to move into third place. James Hall produced a six-wicket spell for Addingham.

Ben Rhydding halted Bolton Villas’ good run in a thrilling match.

Nick Smith (90no) and Jack Marchant (53no) put on 85 to take Ben Rhydding to 190 for three but, with 34 from Shrey Datta and Barry Hawksworth (68no) going well, Villas got within eight of victory when their last man was run out on the third ball of the final over.

A spell of four for 34 from Richard Harrison helped restrict Alwoodley to 132 for eight and earn Ilkley four valuable points, while Oliver Hardaker (64) was top scorer in Horsforth’s 210 but they still went down by five wickets at Woodhouse.

Silsden reduced the gap at the top of DIVISION TWO to three points by taking five points off leaders Knaresborough.

Matthew Pinniger (144) continued his rich vein of form with a third successive century and, supported by Lee Bilborough (43), helped Silsden to 275 for six.

Yasser Ali (4-67) and Zeeshan Qasim (3-62) then got to work and the home side were relieved to hang on to their final wicket for a point.

Third-placed Steeton enjoyed the better of their clash with Follifoot, the team immediately below them, after John Akrigg (133) steered his side to 246 for seven. Mike Halmshaw’s 77 helped Follifoot reach 204 for seven and confine Steeton to four points.

Harden’s total of 157 proved insufficient as New Rover recovered from 30 for four to clinch their first win of the season by one wicket with one ball to go thanks to a superb unbeaten 92 from Toby Ibbotson.

Upper Wharfedale continue to find runs easy to come by, Ben Way (77) top-scoring as they reached 207 for eight to take five points off Colton, while Imran Mirza’s second century of the season gave Calverley an eight-wicket win over Tong Park.

Ed Brown (66) led the way in Olicanian’s 215 for nine at Bardsey but, despite a superb spell of six for 59 from Bernard Hughes, the home side’s last pair hung on for a point.

Guiseley’s Dean Russ (98) hit eight fours and two sixes but was run out going for his century in DIVISION ONE.

Russ found good support from skipper Dave Pennett (50) as they set a target of 205 for six but they were unable to bowl out Bilton and had to settle for four points.

That still leaves Guiseley top of the table but they can hear the footsteps of Kirkstall, who overcame Rawdon when Jos Siddal hit a six on the first ball of the final over to move them up to second.

Denis Rock (58no) had top-scored in Rawdon’s 235 for six but their attack was just unable to subdue Kirkstall, with Rob Sutton (86) and Siddall (59no) leading the charge.

Green Lane were also involved in a thrilling finish after Vivek Mahajan (97) helped them to 221 for six.

Early-season leaders Beckwithshaw were always on target despite the bowling of Istikhar Hussain (5-89) and arrived at the final over needing seven for victory. They only managed four and Lane picked up four points.

Burley were skittled out for 90 by Greg Kennedy (7-31), allowing North Leeds to scrape home by three wickets.

And Otley, having reduced Adel to 96 for nine thanks to the efforts of captain James Davies (6-24), collapsed to 88 all out, even though Gary Thompson (45no) showed runs could be scored on the wicket.