THE experienced pair of Steve Carling and Richard Nichols pushed Skipton a step closer to their goal of promotion to the Aire-Wharfe Division One.

Carling, promoted to opener in the absence of Isaac Beck, blasted a fine century as the Division Two leaders defeated Green Lane by 13 runs.

Carling struck a six and 15 fours while making 105 in his side’s total of 231-8. Gary Owens (37) and Shahid Nadeem (30) helped swell the score to 231-8.

Green Lane, languishing at the wrong end of the table after a heavy points deduction, made a spirited reply. They looked to be heading for a heavy defeat when they tumbled to 89-6, but a seventh-wicket stand of 70 between Azhar Mehmood (35) and Asif Yusuf (40) helped them to reach 218 all out.

Nichols, who had been the hero with the bat in the previous week’s win at Ben Rhydding, came up trumps with the ball. He took 5-47 and Iqbal Khan’s run out of last man Michael Slater with two balls remaining, clinched maximum points for Skipton.

Steeton’s woeful run continues in Division One as they suffered a 58-run defeat against North Leeds.

Things looked promising for Steeton when three of their bowlers took two wickets in an over. The pick of the attack was James Emmott who finished with 5-39, as North Leeds were dismissed for 150.

It looked a modest total but once Andrew Foulds (23) was dismissed at 52-3, the Steeton side slumped to 92 all out.

The Division Three title race remains too close to call with only 12 points between leaders Addingham and fifth-placed Old Modernians.

Henry Barrow (57) top scored in Addingham’s 250-9 with Nick Harford (3-57) and Richard Hey (3-9) bowling out Bardsey for 116.

Upper Wharfedale’s Australian bowler Caleb Grant took 6-59 but it wasn’t good enough to prevent his side from suffering a 22-run defeat at home to second-placed Olicanian.

Olicanian made 184, thanks largely to Scott Sanderson (64no) and Chris Wheeler (42).

Upper Wharfedale were in deep trouble at 64-8 before a ninth-wicket stand of 70 between James Stevenson (41) and Kieran Clarke (34) threatened to turn the game around.

Last man Tom Baines hit an unbeaten 21, but Upper Wharfedale were all out for 162.

Silsden now know they will have to apply for re-election after a nine-wicket defeat against Bolton Villas. The Cobbydalers were bowled out for just 53 as Sam Lawrence (5-19) and Lewis Brown (3-29) got to work.

SKIPPER Craig Walton played the lead role as Steeton IIs defeated Guiseley to lift the Birtwhistle Cup for the first time on Sunday.

He took 2-29 in an economical nine over spell of bowling as Guiseley made 198-9, and followed up with an unbeaten 65 as his side cruised to a seven-wicket win with 7.2 overs to spare at Horsforth Hall Park.

Walton was well supported by Oliver Gledhill (66no) as Guiseley, winners in four of the previous six years, were defeated.

The key to Steeton’s success was their stead bowling. David Wynn (2-20) Paul Hardwick (2-26) and Gary Boulton (2-49) ensured that the Guiseley batsmen were never able to dominate.

Joe Reed (45) posed the biggest threat to Steeton. Six of his colleagues scored double figures but none of them was able to make a telling contribution.