As the Aire-Wharfe Cricket League season accelerates to its conclusion Skipton are still left requiring two teams above them to falter and at the same time win their final two games to avoid relegation.

On Saturday they took on North Leeds at home with anything less than six points probably securing them a second division fate for next season and they went on to win by four wickets.

Captain Mark Whitaker won the toss and gratefully asked the visitors to bat and cue Mick Scott, who started with seven consecutive maidens - and it would have been eight had it not been for a no ball - which meant North Leeds were only 11 off the first 11 overs.

This tight bowling restricted them to a total of 140-8 with Scott finishing with 5-50 off 25 overs, 12 maidens, and in the process passing the 50 wickets for the season mark - has a bowler won the league bowling prize and been relegated? Steve Young had 2-45 and Andy Roberts 1-41.

Skipton just had to bat through to win and so a solid start of 23 for the first wicket was encouraging before Young was deceived by a slower ball and was bowled for 16.

Whitaker went next, remarkably given run out when already past the back of the crease when the bails came off.

It was then up to Sean Atkinson and Martin Redhead to steady the ship which they managed to do until Redhead edged the first ball after drinks into the gloves and remarkably not the mouth of the very vocal North Leeds wicket-keeper.

The whole innings seemed to now rest on Atkinson and the supporting cast of the rest of the Skipton batters.

Atkinson batted with a maturity equal to his years and experience and he was eventually run out by his very good friend Gareth Lee for 59 with the team only needing eight more runs to win.

To obviously keep the crowd on the edge of their seats and benches Lee decided to cut the run rate and proceeded to score one run off the next six overs.

But eventually he launched a ball over the top to give Skipton, who finished on 144-6, victory with 1.4 overs to go. He finished on 25 not out.

Skipton are one point behind the next two teams and it is now a matter of application and pride as to whether they are playing first division cricket next season.

No scoresheet is to hand.

Steeton lost by five wickets at home to Calverley despite scoring 240-8, Calverley winning with 244-5.

For Steeton Hayden Tennant hit 92 , Russell Newton 60, Mark Hedges 33 not out and Matthew Pinniger 31. For Calverley D Hopkinson scored 66, J Holah 52 not out, A Carroll 47 and N Ashraf 43.

Silsden lost by four wickets at home to Ilkley, scoring 159-6 with Andy Pullen hitting 41 and Andy Knowles 25, and Ilkley totalling 160-6.

The first Silsden wicket fell on 13, the second on 29 and the third on 36. The fourth went down on 65, the fifth on 141 and the sixth on 143.

The Ilkley bowling figures were D Wigley 9-3-10-2, C Henry 9-0-38-1, S Brimacombe 15-6-42-1 and A Bird 17-2-51-1.

For Ilkley G Roope got 48 not out, R Wyn-Griffith 48 and Henry 21 not out.

Their first wicket was lost on 27 , the second on 44, the third on 47 and the fourth on 69. The fifth fell on 87 and the sixth on 113.

The Silsden bowling figures were Mark Akrigg 21-6-68-4, Pullen 16.1-3-53-2, Adrian Emmott 4-2-11-0 and David Baluk 8-2-24-0.

Silsden: S Tillotson c Allister b Brimacombe 23; A Emmott b Henry 8; M Akrigg b Wigley 5; J Akrigg c and b Wigley 1; A Knowles run out 25; A Pullen b Bird 41; H Sugden not out 10; T Sugden not out 6; extras 40; total (for 6) 159.

Ilkley: R Wyn-Griffith c H Sugden b Pullen 48; S Lewis c H Sugden b M Akrigg 1; C Quaife c H Sugden b Pullen 10; P Kerr c Pullen b M Akrigg 0; G Roope not out 48; A Bird b M Akrigg 6; J Ward st H Sugden b M Akrigg 16; C Henry not out 21; extras 10; total (for 6) 160.

Addingham won by seven wickets away to Alwoodley, scoring 159-3 in reply to Alwoodley's156-9.

For the winners Chris Campbell took 5-41 and Craig Turner 3-45 and Steve May hit 77 and Darrell Robinson 31.

For Alwoodley B Chapman scored 30 and B McCormick took 2-33.

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