5:00pm Tuesday 24th August 2010
By Sports Desk
Last season’s Aire-Wharfe League Division One runners-up Rawdon are facing relegation after crashing to defeat in a key basement battle.
Having restricted second from bottom Adel to 188-6, the Rawdon batting fell apart and was dismissed for just 31, the second week in a row they have only managed double figures and their fifth defeat in their last six starts.
They are now only three points above the drop zone and even bottom club North Leeds, whom they meet next week, are starting a fightback, having registered their first win of the season by beating Guiseley by 50 runs.
Green Lane did Rawdon a favour by beating Pool, keeping them in the four-team mix at the bottom, with Yasser Ali (65) Lane’s star man.
That kept Lane in third place but the championship is now mathematically beyond them because leaders Burley have a 19-point gap with only 18 left to play for.
Burley maintained their seven-point advantage over Beckwithshaw with a comfortable win over Collingham, Nick Brook (4-31) bowling out the visitors for 115 before Charley Davy (54no) and Michael Truswell (43) clinched the nine-wicket win.
Beckwithshaw kept up the pressure with a very similar score-line to beat Thackley, whose 114 total included 42 from Nasser Jamal.
Liam Miller enjoyed success against his former club Kirkstall Educational, picking up three wickets and, with Ricky Halloran (5-61), limiting the visitors to 192-9. Otley then eased to a six-wicket victory with a half century from Josh Atkinson and an unbeaten 68 from Matt O’Grady.
Calverley produced the performance of the day in Division Two, beating Knaresborough to give themselves a six-point cushion over the bottom two clubs.
Chasing the visitors’ 200-7, Calverley got home with two wickets to spare with Shane Franklin (59) the main contributor.
After defeat against second-placed Follifoot, Silsden are level on points at the bottom with Illingworth, who took a point off leaders Bilton.
That meant Harden had to win at in-form Upper Wharfedale to keep their promotion hopes alive and the chances looked slim when they struggled to 90-9. But Rob Verity (61no) guided them to 171-8 before Phil Leng (6-23) sparked the home side’s collapse to 90 all out.
Steeton went down by 50 runs at home to Olicanian, who made 246-7 as Sean Collings (61), Ed Brown (49) and David Britton (59) were the main contributors. Steeton were all out for 196 despite a 114-run fourth-wicket stand between Neil Spragg (51) and Luxton (52).
There was a shock at the top of Division Three with leaders Ilkley going down to a three-wicket defeat against Woodhouse. Michael Sant hit a half century in Ilkley’s 162-9 but the visitors clinched victory with one ball to spare.
That allowed Ben Rhydding to open up a five-point lead after a surprisingly easy win at New Rover.
Alex Miller (5-27) starred as the often-prolific Rover batting was dismissed for 127 and Charlie Swallow (43) led the run race.
Ilkley’s defeat also allowed Menston to draw level on points with them after Nick Thornton (41) and Ben Purvis (55) helped them to 185, in which Richard Hey took 5-33, before bowling out Addingham for 141.
Andy Robinson (6-15), Matthew Wainwright (3-16) and Zak Keune (51no) were the stars of Horsforth’s seven-wicket win over Bardsey but Hall Park crashed to defeat at Colton, skittled out for 67 despite 36 from opener Alex Higgins.
Steve Carling (45) top-scored in Skipton’s 158-9 before Andrew Fergie (4-27) and Graham Summersgill (4-21) dismissed Alwoodley for 104.
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