HARDEN put themselves right in the mix for the Aire-Wharfe League Division Three title after beating leaders Saltaire.

Alex Antoine was chief destroyer for them in taking 4-37 as the visitors were dismissed for 202. They needed a seventh-wicket stand of 59 between Adeel Ashraf (47) and Feyal Akram (30no) to get them there but the total proved insufficient.

Half-centuries from Tom Cummins (51) and Paul Quinlan (56no) led Harden’s successful run chase in just under 38 overs.

Victory left them in third place, just two points behind Saltaire, who dropped to second behind Olicanian.

Harden were unable to pull off another shock in the Waddilove Cup the following day.

Having upset Guiseley in the last round, Harden were beaten at Division One Ilkley by 54 runs.

Paul Dover (36no) and Andy Rhodes (45no) saw the hosts recover from a slight wobble to set a target of 227-6.

Most of Harden’s top order seemed to be getting set only to get out under pressure from Henry Wilson (3-44) and Will Spivey (3-23) and they were dismissed for 173.

Steeton suffered a narrow defeat at bottom club Thackley, who claimed their first victory in Division Two following five heavy defeats.

Muhammad Khurshid (55no) saw the hosts past Steeton’s 214-8 with two wickets in hand.

On earlier displays, Steeton’s total, in which Andrew Foulds (44) and Freddie Pearson (43) top scored in an excellent 90-run second-wicket partnership, looked well beyond Thackley.

After winning the toss, the Summerhill Lane side were wobbling at 130-5 but Bradley Akrigg (34no) added stability before James Emmott hit a dashing 32 from just 21 deliveries.

Thackley closed quickly on their target in reply but lost wickets on a regular basis.

However, former Brighouse batsman Khurshid dug deep and with the help of Stefan Mather (31) and Umar Farooq (34) and an invaluable 10no from skipper Shane Marshall, finally ended the drought.

Pick of the Steeton bowlers was left-arm quickie Joe Stead, who took 3-55 from ten overs.

A fractious match could have swung Steeton’s way if Khurshid had been given out when Steeton believed he had gloved a bouncer from Joe Stead before scoring his first run.

Instead they were left to rue a chance not given and a simple dropped chance, as well as donating Thackley 38 extras.

Steeton II were on the end of a hammering at home to Ilkley II as they were beaten by 191 runs.

Alex Bell (160) and Rory Kroon (119no) put on 250 for the first wicket as the visitors racked up 335-1. The only highlight for Steeton was a wicket for the youngest player on the field in 12-year-old Jack Luxton.

Aatif Modak (34) and Will Luxton (33) saw the hosts in reasonable shape at 76-2 but they slumped to 117-7 before being dismissed for 144.

Jack Luxton also impressed the following day as Steeton II (169) bowed out of the Birtwhistle Cup at Otley (170-6), the youngster being the pick of the bowlers with 3-13.

Harden II successfully defended a total of 169 all out at Ben Rhydding as Robin Hopwood (3-28) and Tom Stordy (3-39) helped dismiss the hosts for 153.