STEETON were made to pay for a disappointing batting display as they went down to a 44-run defeat in their Division One match against North Leeds at Summerhill Lane.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. They made steady progress to a total of 194-7 in their 50 overs with Neil Spragg (4-43) proving to be the best of the bowlers.

Steeton needed to make a good start but lost both openers in the seventh over with 29 runs on the board. David Robinson hit four boundaries as he scored 17, but Steeton were further reduced to 62-4 in the 27th over.

The required rate was rising to almost six runs per over as Spragg (41) and James Freebury (34) added 56 runs for the fifth wicket.

Spragg top-scored with 41 from 77 deliveries with six boundaries and Freebury scored 34 runs from 41 balls.

Despite their efforts, the required rate continued to rise and Steeton’s late wickets were wasted trying to force the pace.

Tom Stead chipped in with 11 runs, but Steeton were all out for 150 in 46.2 overs.

Paul Quinlan (40no) and Greg Newark (36) were the main contributors to Harden’s 178-9 which was enough to beat Knaresborough, who were restricted to 125-8 in reply.

Silsden endured a miserable day when they were skittled out for 65 by Bolton Villas to lose by six wickets. Defiant opener Tim Sugden was ninth man out with 22, with Muhammad Waqas (22) the only other player to reach double figures.

The scourge of the Silsden side was David Bayne (6-14).

Steeton II suffered a torrid afternoon.

Asked to bat first, they lost wickets with embarrassing regularity to some excellent North Leeds bowling and fielding. The only partnership of note was between opener Chris Luxton (34) and skipper Craig Walton (12), who added 38 runs for the third wicket. Luxton top-scored with 34 from 40 deliveries with two sixes and four fours. Before this match skipper Walton was averaging over 100 but his 12 runs was the only other score into double figures as Steeton were skittled out for a meagre 68 runs in 25.4 overs.

The visitors were unable to make hardly any inroads into the North Leeds batting, their one wicket coming from a run-out.