Steeton continued their early season excellent form with an impressive victory against Tong Park at Low Springs on Saturday.
Batting first, Steeton scored a commanding 261-7. After opener Richard Atkins had scored a steady 11, the major feature of Steeton's innings was a great second-wicket stand of 140 between Andrew Luxton and South African Ian Page.
Luxton top scored with a fantastic knock of 78 from 120 deliveries including two sixes and eight fours. His partner Page faced 77 balls and smashed 75 runs with two sixes and 11 fours. When this partnership was broken wickets tumbled in the search for quick runs, until a seventh-wicket stand of 41 between Neil Spragg and skipper Jon Best. Spragg scored 42 while Best hit an unbeaten 26.
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The Tong Park reply began well enough with an opening partnership of 51 runs, with Druce top scoring with 30 before being dismissed by Alex Gledhill. So far in the 2008 season Gary Boulton has been unstoppable and he collected another four wickets for just 20 runs from 18 overs. Spragg was also impressive as he mopped up the tail with 3-25 runs from 12.4 overs. Tong Park were scuttled for 118 all out. Steeton won by 143 runs and collect six points, giving them a tally of 16 points as they aim to bounce straight back into the top flight.
Steeton host Olicanian on Saturday.
After another showery week Silsden's returning skipper Hugh Sugden won the toss and asked newly promoted Colton to bat first.
While Colton's openers had a reasonable start, once Silsden bowler Yasser Ali had found his line he settled in bowling accurately from one end with the ever dangerous Zeeshan Qasim operating from the other.
Ali made the first breakthrough when N Thackray was caught behind. He was soon followed by his partner. Wickets fell at regular intervals and when James Hall replaced Qasim he took two quick wickets, both well caught by Craig Thornton, which exposed the tail.
When Qasim came back in he was too much for Colton's lower order. He mopped up the last four wickets including a superb "all bowled" hat-trick to skittle the visitors for just 117.
Qasim finished with 6-46 from 16.1 overs although credit should also go to Ali who bowled a miserly 1-41 from 22 overs.
In Silsden's reply, after an early flurry by Masood Ahmed (12), Ali came in and set about the Colton attack hitting them to all parts, ably supported by Tim Sugden. Ali scored 54 before Craig Thornton came to the wicket. Thornton (19 not out) calmly guided Silsden to a comfortable victory with four overs to spare.
Silsden travel to one of last season's relegated teams, Follifoot, on Saturday.
Steeton 2nd XI demolished Otley on Saturday. Batting first Otley struggled to cope with the pace of opening bowler Paul Hardwick, who took 6-15 as Otley were all out for 127. Steeton reached that target with seven overs to spare behind the excellent batting of Chris Meehan, who had an unbeaten 65.
Silsden's 2nd XI took all six points in a 40-run victory at Woodhouse. Stuart Tillotson's unbeaten 76 and a brilliant knock of 89 by new recruit Richard Porter gave Silsden a total 213-5. In reply Woodhouse were all out for 173.
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