Steeton's last pair cling on to earn a point (From Craven Herald)

Steeton's last pair cling on to earn a point

12:03pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in Sport

An unbeaten century from Nick Brook was the highlight as Burley dominated play against Steeton and opened up the possibility of a second Aire-Wharfe League championship win in three years.

With their Division One title rivals struggling, the five points Burley picked up mean they have taken 19 of the last 24 on offer and are now only seven behind leaders Beckwithshaw with six games to go.

Nick Brook hit 14 fours in his unbeaten 137 and put on 166 for the first wicket with his brother David (58). He then shared an unbeaten stand of 99 with Ed Brown who raced to 50 in 44 balls as Burley declared on 298-3, leaving them 53 overs to bowl at Steeton.

Brown took 4-44 as Steeton struggled with only Mark Taylor (40) slowing the home side’s apparent progress to victory.

Steeton were at 129 with 13.1 overs left when last man Stephen Pearson joined Dominic Bennett at the wicket but somehow the gutsy pair hung on, adding 42 runs and earning their side a point that keeps them in third place, a point ahead of Burley.

With Beckwithshaw rained off against Kirkstall, Collingham had the chance to regain top spot but Guiseley had different plans. Abid Awan (4-30) and Alex Bell (3-31) restricted the visitors to 190 and even though Guiseley lost two quick wickets, Charlie Best (64), Josh Nelson (66no) and Harrison Durkin (26no) clinched victory.

Upper Wharfedale , fighting to avoid relegation from Division Two, dug in to earn a point against Bardsey.

James Wilcock took 5-55 as Bardsey made248-7, then Abdrew Foulds hit 41 as Upper Wharfedale replied with 179-8.

Skipton were the latest side to feel the force of Silsden ’s overseas player Majid Inayat’s skills.

He followed up a 3-18 spell with 70 as Silsden beat Skipton by six wickets to go fourth.

Tong Park Esholt made short work of Addingham . With Ricky Palacio taking 5-39, Park needed a seventh wicket stand of 56 between Danny Groom (28) and Nadeem Hanif (34) to set a modest 135 total.

But Brett Kinsey picked up two early wickets and then Hanif took 5-13 to skittle the home side out for 60.