STEETON were hopeful of picking up much-needed points at home to Division One bottom club Kirkstall Educational but lost by 21 runs.

After putting the visitors into bat, skipper Steve Pearson got his side off to a great start with a wicket in his first over from a caught and bowled dismissal.

He went on to take 3-25 while Paul Hardwick claimed 4-55 from eight overs and spinner Tom Stead 3-53 from seven as Kirkstall posted a competitive 183 all out from 28.2 overs (Lee Gordon 47), aided by 18 extras, including 11 wides.

Steeton were always behind in the chase and were struggling at 52-5 in the 19th over. James Freebury (25 runs from 12 deliveries) gave them a shot in the arm before Pearson gave the innings further momentum with 49 not out from just 28 balls as he shepherded the tail.

However, he ran out of partners as the hosts succumbed to 162 all out in 30 overs as Kirkstall closed the gap to just eight points behind their second-bottom hosts.

Harden's game at Addingham was rained off in Division Two, as was Silsden Division Three game at home to Alwoodley.

Second teams

In a rain-reduced 40 overs per side match at Tong Park Esholt, Steeton's Callum Lowe claimed 4-51, including a great low catch from his own bowling. Three of his wickets came in one over as Park were reduced to 104-6 in the 31st over.

Chris Holdsworth's unbeaten 60 saw the hosts close on 165-9.

In Steeton's reply, their batsmen seemed unable to cope with good Tong Park bowling combined with uneven bounce.

They never got out of first gear and succumbed to 100 runs all out in 33.2 overs.

Harden enjoyed a two-run victory at home to Olicanian. They had Martin Falkingham (44) and Hasnehn Haider (34) to thank as they reached 146-7 in 35 overs and the total proved just enough as Robin Hopwood's 2-17 off ten overs helped restrict the visitors to 144-6.

Nick Firth made 38 for Silsden at Alwoodley but wickets tumbled around him as the visitors crashed to 74 all out.

Matt Shuttleworth (3-19), Kieren Lawrence (2-15) and Joe Sugden (1-12) ensured the hosts didn't have it easy in reply but they made it home with four wickets to spare.