Skipton produce shock of the day to beat Colton (From Ilkley Gazette)

Skipton produce shock of the day to beat Colton

7:00pm Tuesday 31st July 2012 in Aire-Wharfe League

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

Leading up to the match, Colton were the last undefeated side in the league, while Skipton had only one victory to show for their efforts, against bottom club Alwoodley.

Kier Nelson (51) 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 captured the last pair 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 65 not out, took the home side to a six-wicket victory.

Tong Park Esholt failed to capitalise on Colton’s defeat, falling 20 short of New Rover’s 205-9 target, allowing Menston to jump into second place after a century stand between Gareth Lee (75no) and Kyle Smith (35no) and a 4-16 haul by John Storey helped them beat Hall Park by seven wickets.

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

With Beckwithshaw beating leaders Collingham, Steeton had the chance to reclaim top spot in Division One but for the second week in a row they suffered defeat, this time 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.

Majid Khan (44) put Thackley on course to overtake Adel’s 165 and even though they suffered a wobble in the middle of the innings, Bradley Goodaire (32no) made sure of full points.

In the vital relegation battle, Jason Wright (84) starred in Ben Rhydding ’s 200, with Chris Wain picking up 6-42. But stands of 110 between Alex Bell (81) and Callum Fraser (29) and 52 between Dave Pennett (43no) and Harrison Durkin (21) clinched victory for Guiseley and gave them a 12-point cushion over their opponents, who remain locked in the second relegation spot.

The Division Two promotion chase is tighter than ever, with Pool , 69-run winners over Green Lane, the only side in the top half of the table to win.

Rawdon are just a point clear at the top after they took four points off Bardsey, Tony Gilks leading the way with 98.

James Seymour (109), James Roper (50no) and Andrew Bailey (5-52) were the top performers as Harden earned four points against Knaresborough to keep their challenge going.

Openers Danny Gaunt (59) and Steven Wilson (53) shared a century stand and put Bolton Villas on the way to a successful chase of North Leeds’ 233-3 with three wickets and two balls to spare.

Calverley ’s survival hopes took a knock when second-bottom Upper Wharfedale found their form to win by 219 runs and draw level on points.

Danny Bott (83) starred as Ilkley picked up five points at Olicanian, who are now 11 points adrift at the bottom.