2:27pm Tuesday 9th June 2009
By Sports Desk
Silsden clinched their first Aire-Wharfe League win of the season in one of the most amazing comebacks seen in league cricket for some time.
Despite a fine spell of five for 46 by Martin Shuttle-worth, Silsden faced a Kirkstall target of 238 for nine, having not managed to pass 200 in Division One this season.
Things looked completely hopeless when five of their top six batsmen were dismissed for ducks as they collapsed to 31 for five but then Vivek Mahajan was joined at the wicket by Andrew Pullan and the whole game turned.
The pair put on 127 for the sixth wicket, with Pullan scoring a half century. But he was overshadowed by his partner, who cracked four sixes and 21 fours in an unbeaten 150 in as many balls.
Hugh Sugden (32no) saw the innings out with Mahajan as Silsden got home with four wickets and 5.4 overs to spare.
The victory took them off the bottom of the table above Calverley, who crashed to a six-wicket defeat to rapidly-improving Rawdon. Denis Rock (6-12) helped skittle Calverley out for 102 and David Morgan led the visitors’ run-chase with 58.
There was another spirited recovery at Burley but this time the efforts of Ishtikhar Hussain (57) and Neil Britton (24no) in taking Green Lane from 70 for nine to 143 couldn’t save their side from defeat and sliding from top to third in the table.
David Brook (45) top-scored in Burley’s 175 for eight before brother Nick (6-50) whipped through the visiting batting, helped by Justin Wright, who followed up a knock of 32 with four for 58.
Anthony Giles took five for 48 in his 16 overs as Colling-ham reached 226 and Otley managed to hang on for a point thanks to 38 from No 8 David Taylor, but Guiseley were never at the races after North Leeds reached 227 for five in a match reduced to 38 overs each side, and went down by 106 runs.
Thackley climbed to second place in Division Two, three points behind leaders Illingworth, when Paul Stothart (6-34) and Mahir Ali (4-35) dismissed Colton for 69 to set up a five-wicket win.
James Freebury (154) and Justin Graham (95no) set up a new league record for the fourth wicket when they put on 267 as Upper Wharfedale raced to 275 for four.
Harden responded well, David Dawson (60) and James Roper (56) leading the way, and they still had two wickets to spare at the close to restrict the home side to four points.
Steeton continued to climb away from the danger zone with a six-wicket win at Tong Park Esholt, the home side’s first defeat since the opening day of the season. Neil Spragg (42) top-scored as Steeton clinched victory in the 38th over.
With Bolton Villas game at Menston called off, Olicanian opened up an eight point gap at the top of Division Three after crushing Hall Park, who have now managed just three points in three games.
Bernard Hughes (4-39), Will Pearson (3-13) and Ben Rhodes (3-13) dismissed Park for 76 to set up a nine-wicket win.
Jake Bezzart (71no) and Nick Cockcroft (40no) helped Ilkley to recover from 51 for three to pass Skipton’s 151 with seven wickets to spare.
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