Skipton turn tables on leaders for shock win (From Craven Herald)

Skipton turn tables on leaders for shock win

11:00am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Sport

Having languished in the bottom two of Division Three all season, Skipton pulled off the shock win of the season beating front runners Colton by seven runs.

Leading up to the match, Colton were the last undefeated side in the league with a 14-point lead while Skipton had only one victory to show for their efforts, against bottom club Alwoodley two weeks before.

Kier Nelson (51) and Graham Summersgill (25) gave Skipton a solid start but Gary Owen’s dismissal for 27 at 123-5 saw wickets start to tumble and it took a determined stand between Graham Williamson and Chris Kimberley to take them from 138-9 to a 157 total.

Zarshad Khan (4-36) and Owen (4-39) then took over. They had Colton reeling at 54-6 only for Colton to rally.

They still looked confident when they reached 150 with two wickets left but Owen removed the last two batsmen without a run being added, leaving Skipton celebrating.

That took them out of the bottom two at the expense of Horsforth who were the latest side to experience the talent of Silsden ’s Majid Inayat.

He followed up a three-wicket spell with a fine 75, which with the help of Lee Bilbrough’s 65no, took the home side to a six-wicket victory.

An unbeaten half-century from Ricky Palacio clinched a third win in a row for Addingham , who overcame Alwoodley by six wickets.

Upper Wharfedale also produced a stunning result to ease their Division Two relegation fears.

They moved level on points with fellow strugglers Calverley after defeating them by the impressive margin of 219 runs.

Upper Wharfedale made a staggering 324-5 with Andrew Foulds leading the way with 115.

James Freebury and Callum Lockett both chipped in with 54.

Calverley never looked like matching the daunting target. They were bowled out for 105 with Tom Baines taking 5-25 and Joel Gill (5-29) With Beckwithshaw beating leaders Collingham, Steeton had the chance to reclaim top spot in Division One but they suffered a nine-wicket defeat by Otley.

James Emmott’s 30 in 19 balls was the highlight of Steeton’s 179 but it wasn’t nearly enough and the result was never in doubt after Sam Smith (67no) and Jonathan Hughes (85) put on 141 for the first wicket.