Keighley's promotion ambitions received a boost with a tense last-over win against rivals Esholt at Lawkholme Lane after a thrilling run chase led by Paul Wilkinson with a personal-best first-team score of 79.

The Second Division promotion race is a congested affair with clubs switching places every week as they search for elusive consistency, but if Keighley show the positive attitude that earned them this two-wicket victory against the odds they will certainly be in strong contention come mid-September when the issues are decided.

With some teams frustrated by the rain, it was a particularly valuable six points as Keighley not only overcame Esholt, who were in second place only two weeks ago, but also beat the weather as a total of 88 minutes were lost to the rain.

After the longest break for rain, which lasted 90 minutes during which the players took tea, there seemed to be little life left in the match.

When play resumed, the umpires ruled there were only 42 overs left and, as Esholt had made only 93 for two in 35 overs, it meant they had no option but to bat their remaining 15 overs and set Keighley as stern a target as possible in the 27 overs left to the home side.

Much depended on the third-wicket pair, prolific overseas player Vivek Mahajan and experienced captain Richard Whitehurst, but Esholt lost Whitehurst at 121 and wickets fell regularly after that as the game swung Keighley's way.

They included Mahajan run out for 63 in a confusing way after a painstaking innings that lasted 41 overs. Mahajan refused to run after turning the ball to leg as partner Danny Lloyd came charging down the pitch. Lloyd began his walk back to the pavilion after the bails were taken off at the bowler's end, but after some confusion and argument it was decided that Mahajan - and not Lloyd - should go. However, Lloyd's reprieve lasted one ball, for he was caught and bowled off the next delivery by Richard Robinson to leave Esholt struggling at 139 for five.

Eventually they were forced to settle for 161 for eight, which left Keighley the difficult but by no means impossible task of scoring at exactly six an over to win the match.

The home side suffered an immediate blow when match-winning all-rounder Robinson, who had taken four for 57 in 14 overs with his spinners, was caught behind of the third ball of the innings off Whitehurst.

Keighley's other potential match winner, Australian Steve Nicholls, began his innings in dramatic fashion by taking 18 off the second over, bowled by slow left-arm bowler Graham Austin. However, the bowler soon had his revenge by trapping him lbw for 24 and when Robert Hopkinson was caught behind off Whitehurst at 28 it looked as if Keighley's bid for victory might fail.

However, Wilkinson, who joined Keighley from Craven League neighbours Long Lee three years ago, and opener Lee Gordon had other ideas as they embarked on what proved to be a crucial fourth-wicket partnership of 66 before Gordon was out for 33, including a six on to the rugby stand.

More wickets fell in the scramble for quick runs, including Wilkinson, who was out for a superb 79, which included two sixes, before Ross Towler and Richard Wood guided them home with three balls to spare.

Skipper Steve Reape, who has only just returned to action after a bad knee ligament injury suffered while playing football, said: "It was an excellent win. Paul Wilkinson batted well until he was run out in the next-to-last over. He didn't look to be in any trouble.

"It had begun to rain again so Paul started to hit out and hit two sixes. His partnership with Lee Gordon put us back in the game. The other lads also dug in well.

"After the disappointment of missing out at Bowling Old Lane the previous week this was a real boost to our promotion hopes. With so much rain about this win was a real bonus. We can only look upwards after this."