STEETON took a giant step towards safety in Aire-Wharfe League Division Two with a 55-run win over Kirkstall Education.

John Akrigg (80) and William Forster (110) starred as Steeton scored a formidable 309 all out and Gary Boulton followed up a knock of 25 with 5-75 as the home side were bowled out for 254.

Collingham are hot favourites to fill one of the Division Two promotion spots after crushing Hall Park in a top-of-the-table clash, Charlie Swallow (7-23) skittling out Park for just 80.

Tong Park Esholt took full advantage, moving into the top two with a victory over Colton inspired by Waleed Akhtar who included nine sixes in his stunning 171. Danny Groom contributed 62 to the home side’s 288-5 before Mahir Ali (3-24) and Saqib Mir (4-37) restricted the visitors to 122.

Jhanzaib Sulari picked up 5-30 in Addingham’s 236-8, which included a stand of 135 between Ted Haggas (74) and Ricky Palacio (58). Palacio then produced a 6-38 spell to dismiss the home side for 186.

A third-wicket stand of 120 between brothers Harry (153) and Tom Smallwood (60) was the backbone of Olicanian’s 316-5 at Leeds Modernians and Manley du Preez made sure of the 151-run win with a 5-42 return.

Relegation-threatened Calverley looked in with a chance of a vital win when they bowled out Ben Rhydding for 144 but a devastating, club record 9-45 spell from Henry Barrow meant they fell nine short.

Dan Viles took 7-36 to dismiss Shadwell for 74 in reply to Harden’s 257-4, which included 88 from opener Andy Wear in Division Three.

Despite 71 from Aidan Holroyd, Thackley struggled against the accuracy of Sam Lawrence (5-32) and were bowled out for 173. Timothy Pryce (55no) and Junaid Bashire (51no) clinched Bolton Villas’ seven-wicket win.

A season-best 120 from Ben Holderness took him to 774 league runs for the campaign and inspired Skipton to victory over Aire-Wharfe League Division Three leaders New Rover.

Holderness, with support from Tom Starkey (34) and skipper Gary Owens (57), helped Skipton set a target of 272 and he then picked up three wickets as Rover were restricted to 254-9.

Rover stay top but Bardsey closed on them with victory over St Chads, while Green Lane kept up their challenge with a thumping win over Old Leodiensians.

Philip Atkinson included 22 fours and four sixes in an unbeaten 184 and shared a 97-run stand with Brad Hallas (48) before putting on 198 with Imran Zaman as Lane raced to 343-3 before skittling out Leos for just 99.

David Blackburn (72) was top scorer in Menston’s 228-8, but Alwoodley managed to pip them by one wicket, grabbing the winning runs on the last available ball.

Ben Morley (86) went to the top of the Division One batting stats as he helped leaders Otley set Bilton a 216 target they never looked like reaching against Stephen Brown (6-31) and Ricky Halloran (3-14).

The victory keeps Otley 27 points ahead of nearest rivals Burley, who overcame Horsforth by three wickets.

Bailey Worcester (76) and Jibrael Malik (50) were the main contributors to Horsforth’s 234-8 and, even though Burley stumbled to 38-3, Nicky Bulcock (58) and Red Bolton (40) steadied things and Joe Hall (38no) saw them over the line.

Rawdon’s outside chance of catching the leaders all but disappeared when they were skittled out for 61 in reply to North Leeds’ 163.

James Rosewarne hit 64 and picked up 4-65 for Pool, but a century from Terry Pattinson ensured Ilkley clinched victory with three wickets in hand.

Guiseley’s hopes for avoiding the drop looked bleaker after Istikhar Hussain’s 7-28 spell saw them dismissed for 152, in reply to Follifoot’s 235-6.

And it is looking more and more likely they will be joined by defending champions Beckwithshaw who slumped to their 11th defeat against Adel.

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