KEIGHLEY overcame stiff competition from Brighouse at Lawkholme Lane to cement their All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Division Two promotion credentials.

Losing the toss, Keighley skipper Paul Quinlan was asked to field first and Brighouse got off to a speedy start, thanks in the main to overseas player, West Indian Deron Greaves, who scored a watchful 44.

Sadly for them the rest of the upper and middle order were unable to support him, thanks in the main to some excellent seam and swing bowling from Hami Shahzad (4-30).

At 112-5 though, Quadratullah Azizi walked out to the middle, took a leg guard and deposited spinner Adam Greenwood over the boundary for a first-ball six.

He did not stop there and, in an amazing show of resistance, plundered 42 from just 10 deliveries, with all his runs being scored in seven straight sixes, all from the bowling of Greenwood!

But it was Greenwood that had the last laugh when Azizi was caught, with the Keighley spinner finishing with 3-77 and Quinlan 3-31 as Brighouse were bowled out for 174 in the 37th over.

In the past few seasons, Keighley's inexperience would have seen them struggle to chase down such a score, but thanks to a much better balance in age within the team this has helped the younger players to settle down.

This was reflected in the Keighley chase as they ran down the score with the loss of seven wickets, with the highest score being vice-captain Max Davidson with 31, with a further four players chipping in with scores in the twenties.

Keighley maintained their seven-point lead over Wakefield St Michael and need two victories out of their last three matches to guarantee them promotion.

They travel to Bowling Old Lane this weekend.

Keighley's second team went to Brighouse at the weekend knowing that another victory would put them within sight of promotion from Championship Division Two.

Winning the toss, Keighley skipper Alex Towler opted to bat on a good-looking wicket.

Openers Abe Kenny and Ahtaham Raza got Keighley off to the perfect start, putting on 80 and giving the remaining batsmen the perfect platform to build on.

Once Kenny (44) and Raza (31) departed, team-mates Jack Beetham (29), Towler (40) and Azeem Hussain (56no), whose innings was excellent, helped the visitors post a challenging 233-8 in their allotted 45 overs.

The Brighouse reply stuttered from the start, and a fabulous opening spell from 17-year-old Dillon Birkett (4-17) gave the home team no chance to get back into the game.

Despite a valiant 61 from Raees Hassan, Brighouse crumpled to 140 all out, 93 runs short of their target.

Keighley are now 73 points clear of third-placed Altofts, and a victory at home to bottom side Azaad will guarantee them promotion back to Championship One at the first attempt.