KEIGHLEY are still looking for their first league win of the season after a narrow defeat at fellow Championship A strugglers Birstall.

The hosts celebrated their first victory after edging home by one wicket with nine balls to spare.

Keighley batted first and the undoubted highlight of their innings was an unbroken third-wicket stand of 172 between overseas player Ben Hastie (95no off 87 balls) and Max Davidson (74no off 105 balls).

They took the score from 42-2 to 214-2, Australian Hastie falling just short of a second century since his arrival at Lawkholme Lane this season.

Nick Kaye (80no) and Salman Sayed (63) ensured their side overhauled Keighley’s total despite the efforts of Andy Wear (4-35).

It looked like Birstall would comfortably get over the line when they needed just eight runs with four wickets left. But Zahir Abbas took the wicket of David Fozard and Wear followed up with two more dismissals to leave the hosts sweating before edging home.

The win lifted Birstall above Keighley, who visit Hunslet Nelson on Saturday.

In contrast to the first team's struggles, Keighley II made it five wins out of five to put themselves four points clear at the top of Championship A.

Harry Barker was their star performer with 7-21 off 11.2 overs to help skittle visitors Birstall II for 146.

Rory Robinson provided good support with 3-26 off 15 economical overs, with Brad Lay (45) and Paul Brook (34) providing the main resistance.

Keighley edged home by three wickets with Louis Horsfield (70) playing the key innings in the face of good bowling from Brook (4-27).

The seconds host Bowling Old Lane on Saturday.