SALTAIRE returned to their imperious best as they handed out a 218-run thrashing to struggling Horsforth in Division One of the Aire-Wharfe League on Saturday.

Danish Hussain’s 139 formed the foundation of an excellent batting performance, with middle-order Jibrael Malik also notching an outstanding 128 not out from 91 deliveries – including 18 fours and three sixes – to see the league leaders finish on a mammoth 362-4. Matt Wainwright (3-119) and Ishu Roy (1-28) were the only bowlers to make a breakthrough.

Tom Colley (48) and Matt Cordingley (38) put on 82 for the first wicket as Horsforth started well in their reply, but they were no match for Mutashan Ali Shah (7-40) and Mussawar Shah (2-30) in an emphatic display that saw the visitors bowled out for a below-par 144.

Behind them, Otley are back up to second after picking up 19 points with a four-wicket win against third-placed Beckwithshaw at The Stag Den.

An 80-run partnership between Oliver Hebblethwaite (71) and Oliver Hotchkiss (36) contributed the majority of the hosts’ 171, with Alex Mullins (6-51), James Davies (2-42), and Damon Reeve (2-43) impressing with the ball.

Middle-order Josh Stephenson (48) and skipper George Huntley (38) put on 54 for the third wicket to set Otley up nicely, before wicketkeeper Tom Brady (20 no) saw them to their target midway through the 42nd over.

Addingham came down from the high of their win at Cross Green last weekend in dramatic style after they were beaten by 136 runs at home to Rawdon.

The hosts had the upper hand until Rawdon’s middle order stepped up to bat, wicketkeeper Harry Nicholson (98), skipper Jake Hodges (65), and James Doidge (48) rescuing their innings from 53-5 to 273-9, despite the best efforts of Rob Ellis (4-60) and Ricky Palacio (4-74).

Opener Robbie Miller made a respectable 20, however the hosts failed to get going in their reply, with a charge from tailenders Dan Ellis (34) and Rory Stead (25) coming too late as they struggled to 143. Joel Morley (4-42) was the best of the bowlers for Rawdon, with the rest of the wickets shared between Sam Baxter (2-15), Ben Morley (2-26), and Hodges (2-27).

North Leeds faced a similar fate after they were comfortably second best in their match against Burley-in-Wharfedale at Hodson Park.

Batting first, the visitors had George Wales (66), Kshitij Kapote (33), and Amir Farooq (28) to thank for helping them to 215-8, with Jason Wright taking 4-50 before scoring 63, backed up by Nicholas Brook (77), as Burley reached their total with overs to spare.

Elsewhere, Collingham & Linton made it back-to-back wins at home to Ilkley.

A 63-run partnership between middle-order Steve James (63) and Adam Wetherall (26) formed the backbone of the hosts’ 175 as Ilkley skipper Henry Wilson (5-32) impressed with the ball.

Struan Connor (47) and Dave Pennett (38) put on 75 for the third wicket to put Ilkley in a commanding position, but the home bowlers won through, with Charlie Swallow and Jack Burke taking three wickets apiece.

Bilton also claimed an impressive 101-run victory at home to Olicanian.

Wicketkeeper Ryan Bradshaw (63) impressed as the hosts made196-8, with Mohammed Nadim (4-40) and Tom Starkey (3-32) performing with the ball.

Russell Robshaw (4-37), Luke Jarvis (2-7), Tuseif Arshad (2-16), and Awais Ejaz (2-32) ensured Olicanian never came close, with skipper Harry Smallwood (68 no) scoring almost all his side’s runs as the batting order collapsed around him.

Fahid Rehman notched his fourth century of an impressive season to help Division Two leaders New Rover to a 26-run win at Guiseley.

Batting first, the visitors lost an early wicket but had their innings stabilised by a 107-run stand between skipper Michael Richmond (32) and Rehman, who scored 11 fours and six sixes on his way to a magnificent 106 from just 83 deliveries. Christodoulos Bogdanos (32) then added fifty partnerships with Rehman and Aqsad Ali (57) to help his side to 300-8, with Joel Newlove (4-74) and Marcus Brown (2-86) the best of the bowlers.

Guiseley showed a much-improved performance with the bat in their reply of 274-9, Rob Butterfield (69) and Joe Reed (47) adding the bulk as Ali claimed 3-69 from his 15 overs.

Second-placed Pool also came out on top in a low-scoring affair at Follifoot.

Nat Cutts (49) was one of only four batters to make double figures in the hosts’ 136 as Krutik Patel (5-48), Charlie Bell (3-13), and the economical Will Pallister (0-10) won through with the ball.

Follifoot made the perfect start in their defence, removing the big-hitting Pallister with the innings’ first ball, but Bell (17) and a late charge from tailender Olly Boggie (22 no) saw Pool reach their target, despite the best efforts of Alex Fox (4-35) and Istikhar Hussain (4-44).

Tong Park Esholt are just eight points behind after picking up 18 points with a one-wicket win at Bardsey.

Batting first, Bardsey made a competitive 281-6 thanks to captain Tom Clayton (66), Eddie Clayton (57), and Mohammed Altaf (53), with Tong Park skipper David Hester (3-70) the best of the bowlers.

Openers Hester (104) and Dan Groom (58) formed a 155-run partnership for the first wicket as Tong Park started strongly in their reply, with Gareth Wilkinson (42) seeing them to their target with just four balls to spare.

By Emma Kennedy