The pressure certainly got to Nidderdale League top two Killinghall and Newby Hall at the weekend – with both sides slumping to shock defeats.
Killinghall were undone by mid-table Hampsthwaite who triumphed by one wicket in a dramatic encounter.
Chasing Killinghall's 143-7 (Richard Danby hitting 77), Hampsthwaite were in trouble at 79-7, but an eighth-wicket stand of 63 between Oliver Ma
ntle (63no) and Riley McGregor (28) put them on the edge of victory.
Two wickets then fell with the score on 142, but Hampsthwaite's last pairing held their nerve to steer their side home – despite the efforts of Dan Salpietro (5-30) and Tom Durrance (4-34).
Newby Hall suffered a nine-wicket reversal against Masham – for whom Richard Smith (39no and 4-14) took the plaudits.
Smith and Adam Smith (75no) shared an unbeaten second wicket partnership of 122 in their 124-1 after Newby Hall had posted 120-9.
Pannal were bowled out for 153 in reply to Ouseburn's 161-9 – who were indebted to strong performances from James Bryant jnr (49) and John Sixsmith (5-25).
Alne moved up to second but were made to work hard for their one-wicket win over stubborn Dacre Banks.
Banks' star man was Duncan Naylor, who top-scored with 75 from their 140 all out (Stuart Morley taking 3-13 and Toby Strike 3-33).
and despite the best efforts of all-rounder Steve Lawrence (7-62), Alne squeezed home by the narrowest of margins.
Pateley Bridge's young skipper Thomas Simpson smashed 22 sixes in a 77-ball 180 against Pannal Seconds in Division Three.
Simpson shared in a third- wicket partnership of 225 with Richard Light (84) in their 301-4.
Colin Chadwick then ripped through the Pannal batting with 5-22 as they were dismissed for 117.
Ends
The full article contains 310 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
