Silsden made it two wins out of two in Aire-Wharfe League Division Three at Bardsey but were put under pressure early on.

The hosts' decision to send their guests in to bat looked like a good one as opening bowler Ali took four top order wickets to leave Silsden reeling at 15-4.

Muhammad Waqas (25) and Iqbal Khan (22) dug in to try and build some sort of defendable total but it was Sabir Khan, batting for the first time in Silsden colours, that truly turned the tide.

Sabir was busy from the outset, running the Bardsey fielders ragged as well hitting six fours and four sixes in his excellent 79. He was supported well by the tail as Silsden ended on a competitive looking 172.

The hosts never really looked like getting close to the total as Bala impressed again, claiming two wickets in both of his spells to finish with 4-23.

However, the main flurry of wickets fell to spin duo Gulsharraz and man of the match Sabir, who picked up three middle order wickets apiece through some good bowling and loose batting.

Just as in the previous week, Silsden were exemplary in the field and skittled Bardsey out for just 91 and travelled home with another 17 points in the bag.

On a day when runs were generally hard to come by, Burley and Steeton produced over 450 between them in an intriguing Aire-Wharfe League tussle.

Captain Neil Spragg (51) and Craig Walton (49) led the way as Steeton reached 233-9 in their innings, reduced to 45 overs by the weather as Jason Wright picked up 4-69. But Burley, especially Ed Brown, were up to the challenge.

He hit an unbeaten 95 and, with Nick Brook weighing in with 46, they got home with three wickets to spare.

Harden’s poor start to the season in Division Two continued as they crashed to 89 all out at home to Knaresborough chasing 146-8.

Steeton were up against it in their Waddilove Cup preliminary tie at in-form Division Two leaders Follifoot, who made 240-6.

The visitors were struggling at 24-4 but they dug themselves out of a hole.

Skipper Neil Spragg (78) was defiant as he shared a 36-run sixth-wicket partnership with Andrew Foulds (28). However, in the 23rd over Steeton were staring an embarrassing defeat in the face at 83-7.

The Summerhill Lane side’s batting has depth – and it was definitely needed. Stephen Pearson (75no off 70 deliveries) joined Spragg and together they added 83 runs for the eighth wicket before the captain was out with the score on 166.

Steeton needed to score a further 74 runs in the last nine overs and they achieved it as James Emmott (22no) joined Pearson and, together with an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 75 runs, they pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.

It came by two wickets with five balls to spare and sets up a first-round proper tie at Collingham on May 18.