Ruthless batting display sees Skipton to third victory of the season

CONSISTENT batting helped Skipton record their third victory of the season in Division Two of the Aire-Wharfe League.

Five players got starts as they overhauled visitors Horsforth’s 198-9 with plenty of time to spare.

Horsforth chose to bat and they were indebted to Will Joyce’s 90 as other players struggled to cope with Shahid Nadeem (4-26) and, to a lesser degree, skipper Gary Owens (2-37) and Keir Nelson (2-44).

Nadeem (20) and keeper Joe Birks (33) then got Skipton off to a solid start with a stand of 46 and they never looked back, with No 3 Nelson scoring 56 off 61 balls, including six fours and four sixes.

The good work was then continued by Robert (38no) and Finlay Walker (16no) as the target was passed in the 42nd over, moving Skipton up one place to seventh.

With Tong Park Esholt winning at home to Pool, Steeton are now in a demotion in the Premier Division after losing a thriller at home to Rawdon.

Rawdon made 184-7 after winning the toss, spinner Ewan Johnston returning the best figures with 3-42.

Skipper Stephen Pearson (41no) then almost got Steeton over the line, their innings finishing on 180-9 as they lost by four runs.

Overseas player Tremaine Dowrich (28) and keeper Matthew Nutter (14) put on 42 for Steeton’s first wicket, but they slipped to 57-4 before Ben Hemsley (27) added 47 for the fifth wicket with James Robinson (21).

The run outs of Hemsley and Paul Quinlan (24) were perhaps crucial, although Pearson put on 54 for the seventh wicket with the latter as Steeton slipped from 175-7.