Nidderdale League: Birstwith keep title race alive after inflicting first defeat on leaders

Birstwith kept the Nidderdale League title race alive by dishing out the first defeat of the season on leaders Ouseburn.
Tom CrostonTom Croston
Tom Croston

Tom Croston’s brilliant knock of 92 alongside Craig Robinson (79) took Birswith past Ouseburn’s opening innings of 255-8 with six wickets in hand.

Ouseburn will have been happy with their haul first up following the efforts of Adam Fisher (67) and Tom Parker (60)

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With Birstwith skipper Jon Millward departing for a 12-ball duck, the pendulum was firmly in favour of the leaders. However, Croston and Robinson shared 174 for the second wicket to set up the shock outcome, with Dan Riley’s 33 not out completing the job.

Third-placed Darley got the better of Spofforth in a precursor to this month’s Atkinson-Swires Cup final Chris Gill (85) continued his fine form with the bat as Darley secured a four-wicket win despite Nick Robinson claiming a hat-trick for Spofforth.

Pat Gannon (78) topscored in Spofforth’s 189-9 but Darley openers Gill (85) and captain Duncan Naylor (46) put on 143 for Darley’s first wicket. Four wickets then fell for five runs as Robinson entered the attack and had Gill and Paul Newbould caught behind in successive deliveries. Brad Stephens went leg before on the third ball.

Victory eventually went Darley’s way with two overs spare.

Pateley Bridge dropped closer towards the trap door after struggling to 136-8 against Helperby. Joe Corner took four wickets for Helperby, who raced to the total off 28 overs with seven wickets in hand.

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Alne improved their survival chances with a four-wicket win over relegation rivals Bishop Thornton.

Toby Stirke’s impressive six-for sent Thornton tumbling for 143 and Paul Hutchinson struck a half century in the winning reply.

Elsewhere, Knaresborough Forest (285-5) just scored enough to down Burton Leonard (269) by 16 runs.

West Tanfield (175-9) took advantage to move up to fourth with a six-run win over Hampsthwaite (165).

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Division Two top two Masham and Goldsborough both bounced back to winning ways after surprise defeats last week.

Derek Champman took six wickets as Masham (208-6) beat Harrogate 3rds (206) by four wickets, with Bailey McCourt (80) and Phil Newton (52) both impressing with the bat.

Jarrod McPhee compiled a crucial innings of 73 not out as Goldsborough (184-7) scored 65 too many for Ripley.

Ripley were dismissed for 129, with McPhee adding 3-26.

Blubberhouses smashed 345-9 against long-suffering Thorton-le-Moor, who were removed for just 108 in reply.

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Micah Campbell was the clear difference between the teams, scoring a century and claiming eight victims with the ball.

Luke Platts also hammered a ton inside 60 balls for fifth-placed Blubbs’ who dished out Thornton’s 12th defeat of the season.

Meanwhile, Raskelf lost three wickets as they chased down Studley Royal 2nds’ 179-9. Resurgent Newby Hall (156-4) beat Scotton (155-9) by six wickets and Markington (184ao) thrashed Dacre Banks (89ao) by 95 runs.