Aire-Wharfe: Red-hot Otley branch out at top of the tree

Otley played host to faltering champions Beckwithshaw who were put in to bat by their hosts and knocked down for 132 all out.

’Shaw opener Dax Guy made 44 but only Oliver Hotchkiss (37) got close to his tally as Otley’s Stephen Brown (4-29) and David Hester (3-6) caused big problems with the ball.

Cameron Bradley then removed opener Jamie Pickering for just four runs but fellow opener Jonathan Hughes remained unbeaten on 57 as Otley eased to 133-3, a result which left Beckwithshaw bottom of the pile and 18 points from safety. Otley’s Alex Atkinson (23) and skipper David Hester (34no) also added valuable contributions.

Burley-in-Wharfedale are now 28 points behind in second after a 97-run defeat at Adel who moved seventh.

Burley won the toss and stuck their hosts in to bat but the visitors had huge problems with opener Elliot Audsley who made 93 before eventually being bowled lbw by Joshua Challenger. Audsley and Arjun Ramkumar (34) put on a second-wicket stand of 118 as Adel made 250-6 before declaring after 47 overs and Burley were then skittled for 153 in reply.

Daniel Revis was left high and dry for the visitors, holding his bat on 55 as David Foster wreaked havoc by taking 5-26.

In the only other completed fixture, Guiseley moved out of the bottom two and up to tenth with a five-wicket win at home to Horsforth who sit sixth.

Horsforth were dismissed for 137 before Guiseley overhauled at 139-5.

Third-placed Follifoot had to settle for a ten-point haul despite making 235-5 declared at home to fourth-placed North Leeds who were 153-5 when the rain had the final say. Cameron Martin had cracked 75 for the hosts but North Leeds left with seven points.

Second-bottom Bilton were 85-9 in pursuit of fourth-bottom Ilkley’s 127 when the weather caused an abandonment and eight points each while eighth-placed Pool were 78-2 chasing fifth-placed Rawdon’s 225-7 when rain stopped play.