Steeton win tie breaker to reach last eight (From Craven Herald)

Steeton win tie breaker to reach last eight

7:30am Thursday 21st June 2012 in Sport

Steeton reached the quarter-finals of the Waddlilove Cup after going through by virtue of having lost fewer wickets in a tie at Thackley.

Leon Harber (60) and Majid Khan (66) shared a stand of 99 as the hosts eased their way to 224-9, with Richard Craddock (4-51) picking up four wickets for the third time this season and Andrew Luxton weighing in with 3-29.

With Steeton faltering at 44-3, Luxton then starred with the bat as he and John Akrigg (42) put on 122 before Luxton was joined by Mark Taylor.

The pair chipped away at the total, Luxton going on to score 103no and Taylor (29no).

They needed just six for victory when Mahir Ali stepped up for the last over and, though he restricted them to five, he couldn’t prevent Steeton going into the quarter-finals by the narrowest of margins.

Silsden and Calverley will try again on Sunday after they were unable to make a start.

Steeton’s cup success made up for a frustrating day in Division One 24 hours earlier.

Their home game against Ben Rhydding was one of the few to start and their opening pair made the most of it.

Put into bat, Steeton’s Craig Walton and Chris Luxton set a club record opening partnership of 217, breaking the previous best held by David Emmott and Bryan Tunney which was set back in 1971.

Walton completed a maiden century for Steeton from 106 balls and was finally out for 121 when his helmet fell off and hit his wicket.

Opening partner Luxton scored an excellent 87 from 119 deliveries as Steeton closed on 252-4 in 46 overs but the hosts could only fit in two overs before the rain came.

Upper Wharfedale’s home match with Division two leaders Green Lane was abandoned after the visitors had reached 206-7 in 30 overs.

Opener Andy Pickup made 69 and skipper Davin Charleston (39) were Green Lane’s top scorers while Jamie Freebury (3-60) was the most successful home bowler.

There was no play in Silsden’s Division Three game with Tong Park/Esholt or Skipton’s match at Horsforth.

The one point earned enabled Skipton to climb off the bottom of the table.

Alwoodley are now at the foot of the table after losing to Menston by 12 runs.

Waddilove Cup quarter-finals: Burley v Ilkley, Collingham v Silsden or Calverley, Ben Rhydding v Follifoot, Steeton v Green Lane.

Birtwhistle Cup quarter-finals: Ilkley v Beckwithshaw or Guiseley, Horsforth v Collingham, Follifoot or Pool v Adel , Olicanian v Steeton. Ties to be played on July 1.