HARDEN raised hopes they could escape the Aire-Wharfe League Division Two relegation spots with a three-wicket win over Skipton.

Tom Cummins was the architect, taking 8-46 to bowl out Skipton for 102 and, even though the hosts slipped to 38-6, Matthew Topham stepped up with a match-winning 53no.

Victory saw Harden move off the bottom spot above Illingworth but they still trail Thackley by 13 points.

Steeton are still in the bottom two in Division One after a 123-run defeat at home to leaders Otley.

Dave Hester (71) top-scored in Otley’s 234 in which occasional spinner Matthew Price picked up 4-57. Paul Hardwick also weighed in with 3-52 and Steve Pearson 2-43.

The Summerhill Lane side never looked likely to threaten the target as they slumped to 110 all out.

Azhar Mahmood starred as hosts Green Lane overwhelmed struggling Silsden in Division Three.

Waleed Akhtar (77), Asif Yousaf (56) and Neil Britton (49) were the main contributors to Lane’s 265-9 as Shaun Brentnall (3-58) and Nick Firth (3-79) were in the wickets.

Then Mahmood produced a devastating 7-25 spell and, together with Britton (3-12), skittled out Silsden for 49.

Second teams

Leg spinner Andrew Luxton proved the catalyst for Steeton's two-wicket win at Otley.

He ended a second-wicket stand of 154, removing talisman Graeme Wolfenden for 96, before going on to claim 6-16 from eight overs as he bamboozled the middle order.

Having looked likely to post a target in excess of 300, Otley were limited to 201-9 in their 50 overs.

Luke Watson top-scored with an excellent 46 when Steeton replied but the visitors were struggling at 144-6.

They were grateful to experienced skipper Gary Boulton, who saw them home with an unbeaten 29.

Silsden were involved in an exciting last-ball tie at home to Green Lane. Having been put into bat, the Cobbydalers posted

187-5, the key partnership being a third-wicket partnership of 87 between veterans Andrew Pullen (103) and Hugh Sugden (40).

Simon Watson (57) led the way for Lane in reply as Kieren Lawrence claimed 4-30. Silsden claimed a tie after Ben Southern ran out last man Daniel Melrose off the last ball with the scores level.

Skipton amassed 290-3dec at home to Harden, who were bowled out for 148.