KEIGHLEY'S century star Travis Nightingale wasn't put off by walking to the wicket for the second ball of their All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League Championship Division Two match at second-placed Northowram Fields.

Visiting skipper Andy Wear elected to bat on a dry, hard-looking wicket, but was then out first ball.

But Nightingale, who had been short of runs this season, looked positive from ball one and soon took command.

He dispatched the home attack to all parts of the field, hitting seven sixes and 17 fours in a magnificent 151 off just 118 deliveries.

His team-mates, particularly Jack Beetham, whose 57 came off just 39 balls, but also Louis Horsfield (28), Nathan Storton (29) and Matt Haines (27no), backed him up as Keighley totalled an impressive 340-7 off their 50 overs. Nightingale added 91 with Horsfield and 93 with Beetham.

Storton soon had the hosts, who needed almost seven an over, reeling at 4-2 with two quick wickets.

Despite the efforts of wicket-keeper Chris Metcalf (96) and Ajantha Weerappuli (78), who added 135 for the third wicket, Northowram eventually finished on 285-9.

Pick of the bowlers was Storton (3-71) and 16-year-old Dillon Birkett, who bowled an economic 11 overs for 2-41, Nightingale taking 2-71.

Keighley thus leapfrogged Northowram into second place, but could have another high-scoring encounter on Saturday when they entertain fifth-placed Hunslet Nelson.

In Championship Division One, Keighley's second team were heavily beaten at home by a strong Cleckheaton team.

The visitors elected to bat and finished on 226-6 from their 45 overs after skipper Chris Dobson (37) and Richard Noble (26) had put on 65 for the first wicket.

Nathan Allatt (2-18) helped to reduce them to 86-3 but, despite 3-52 from Jack Rogers, the visitors were revived by Joe Robinson, who made 71 in 70 deliveries.

Keighley then lost regular wickets as they were dismissed for 84 in just 23 overs, Owen Narey top-scoring with 15 as man of the match Robinson took 5-31 and Sam Bailey 5-18.

On Saturday, ninth-placed Keighley are at Wakefield St Michaels, who are fourth, a place behind Cleckheaton.