Australian batsman helps Steeton go top

Australian David Wildsmith hit his second successive halfcentury to help Steeton to a two-wicket victory at Otley and send them to the top of the table.

Andrew Luxton (4-46) and Stephen Pearson (3-50) restricted Otley to 158-9, of which Sam Smith hit 53. Steeton, in turn, struggled against Ricky Halloran (4-30) and Josh Atkinson (3-28) until a 60 stand between Wildsmith (54) and Mark Taylor (45) proved decisive.

That took Steeton above Beckwithshaw who went down to their first defeat at the hands of Collingham. Yaser Ali and Stuart Wilson each picked up four wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 149 but 5-21 from Matthew Fielding saw Beckwithshaw dismissed still 19 runs short of victory.

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Tom James scored 50 as Adel set a target of 139-6 in a match reduced to 35 overs each before Leon Harber (28) and a late flourish from Bradley Goodaire (25no) helped champions Thackley to victory with five balls to spare.

Steve Harrison (60) and Jos Siddall (43) top scored in Kirkstall Educational’s 184-5 and even though Bilton collapsed to 27-5, they managed to hang on for an unlikely point thanks to Richard Spittlehouse (39).

Nick Brook followed up a 4-8 spell with an unbeaten 71 as Burley beat Follifoot by five wickets while 70 from opener Josh Nelson was the highlight of Guiseley’s three-wicket win over Ben Rhydding.

Division Two front-runners Rawdon raced to 305-4 thanks to Ryan Gladwin (135no) and Mark Stringer (87) but with Tom Clayton (153no) leading the way, Bardsey got within nine of victory before running out of overs and having to settle for two points.

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That allowed Harden to edge ahead of Rawdon after James Halliday (5-19) tore through the top half of Knaresborough’s batting with just 14 on the board on their way to being dismissed for 57 in reply to the visitors’ 142.

Jeremy Batty (6-16) and Henry Wilson (3-19) skittled out Olicanian for 83 to put Ilkley on the way to a first victory. Defending Green Lane’s 96, Adil Ashraf (5-16) and Mike Ellis (3-19) came up trumps and skittled out Pool for 90.

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