STEETON’S slump continued in Division One as they lost a rain-reduced match at Bilton by 44 runs.

After winning the toss, the visitors restricted their Harrogate hosts to 173-9 off 44 overs.

Pick of the Steeton bowling was off-spinning South African Jonny Stander, who took 3-49 runs from 13 overs. Skipper Neil Spragg took 2-38 and Stephen Pearson 2-43.

In reply, the visitors were reeling at 19-3 before Spragg (22) added 35 for the fourth wicket with Mark Taylor (19). Another collapse saw them slip to 58-6 and, despite resistance from Jon Best (24) and Pearson (25), they were all out for 129.

Elsewhere, Tom Cummins’ half-century was a rare bright spot for Harden in Division Two as they went down by 153 runs at home to Adel.

The visitors racked up 283-8 as Scott Hartley (3-73) and Andrew Wear (3-49) battled hard. Cummins hit 64 in the reply but Harden could only reach 130 all out.

Chris Wheeler (58no and 4-20) and Will Pearson starred as Olicanian beat Silsden by six wickets in Division Three.

Gulsheraz Ahmed (29) top-scored for Silsden in their 146 all out total and then took 2-44.

Steeton II inflicted a first defeat on leaders North Leeds II.

The Summerhill Lane hosts were wobbling at 58-5 before Adam Hardwick and Luke Watson turned the game with an excellent 72-run sixth-wicket partnership. Watson contributed 27 while Hardwick played a remarkable game-changing innings of 93 not out from 87 deliveries, with seven sixes and seven fours, including 23 plundered off the penultimate over.

He shared a 60-run unbroken ninth-wicket partnership in just five overs with his brother Paul Hardwick (17no) as Steeton finished with 211-8. Paul Hardwick then starred with the ball, ripping out three early wickets for 34 runs.

Spinner Zaggy Pearson removed the middle-order as he finished with 3-20 as North Leeds were dismissed for 128 runs in 36.4 overs.

Steeton II capped a great weekend by beating Ben Rhydding II by 84 runs to reach the semi-finals of the Birtwhistle Cup.

Steeton’s opening batsmen put on a terrific 158 as Mick Wilson scored 83 and Matt Price 78. Hayden Tennant (50no) also weighed in as his side reached a final total of 247-4.

It proved too much for Ben Rhydding as Zaggy Pearson (3-41) helped dismiss them for 163 to set up a home semi-final against Rawdon on July 20.