KEIGHLEY entertained Pudsey Congs at the weekend in Division One of the Bradford League, pulling off a thrilling four-wicket win with one ball to spare to boost their fight against the drop.

The game was in doubt, due to the Saturday morning downpour, but thanks to a great effort from the Keighley groundstaff, the pitch was passed fit for a reduced 25 over per side game.

Keighley skipper Max Davidson won the toss and invited the opposition to bat first.

Pudsey looked to push the ball around the big Lawkholme pitch but good tight bowling, backed up with excellent fielding and catching, saw Pudsey wickets falling at regular intervals.

Despite a valiant 66 from opener Jacob Slator, Pudsey could only amass 128-7 in their allotted 25 overs, with Ben Helmsley taking 3-49.

Eyeing a much needed win, the opening pair of Luke Chapman and Ryan Ridehalgh got Keighley off to a great start, getting the balance correct between boundaries and singles.

They put on 106 for the opening wicket before both being run out for 44 and 51 respectively.

This should have been game over, but like in previous games against East Bierley and Undercliffe, the middle order panicked, making mistake after mistake, and all of a sudden, Keighley still required seven off the last over.

But a big six from Raees Hussain quelled their fears and it was left to Jimmy Hussain to score the winning run with one ball to spare.

This gave Keighley only their second win of the season but more importantly, a huge confidence booster for the rest of the campaign.

They are still narrowly bottom of the Division One table, and travel to Gomersal this weekend.

Keighley’s second eleven made the reverse trip to Pudsey Congs in a rain effected 25 over per side game.

Carrying no less than seven third team players, they elected to bat first. Father and son opening pair of Mohammed (35) and Adam Qurban (24) got the visitors off to a great start putting on 47 for the first wicket.

But the frailties of their batting line up were exposed from then on as no other batsman made double figures; Keighley being bowled out for 103 in 22 overs.

With more bad weather looming, Pudsey’s batsmen came out swinging to force the result quickly.

With Imran Ahmed (42 not out) and Joe Stolarski (38 not out) being in a brutal mood, they knocked off the total in just the 12th over for the loss of two Louie Wilkinson wickets (2-35).

The seconds entertain Great Preston at Lawkholme this weekend.

Elsewhere, Crossflatts' game at Rodley in Division Three was abandoned with no play due to the weather.