Steeton'S cup dreams were shattered by former Somerset slow bowler Steve Booth last weekend.

The Summerhill side, playing in their second final, came up against a bowler in sparkling form as he took seven wickets for 53 runs.

Earlier things had been going the South Craven side's way after Knaresborough's bright start was thwarted. Phil Barrett caught Opener Michael Standford off Chris Taylor's bowling and Guy Saxton chipped in to claim the wickets of Corcoran and Thompson.

Tight bowling from the Steeton attack ensured runs were at a premium and only Brett Crabtree (43) managed to establish a solid innings. He teamed up with Brett Lunt to build a partnership of 59 before Mark Hedges caught Lund off Boulton who was also to claim the wickets of Crabtree and skipper Booth.

The total of 156-8 was not beyond the reach of Steeton and they set off brightly on a difficult pitch which was going to give little help to the batsmen.

They suffered and early set back when Robert Wynn was trapped lbw by Booth. Big-hitting Russell Newton tried to blast the bowler from the attack, but was to come to grief when on 25, caught by Paul Thompson off the bowling of Mallcolm Brittain..

Australian Matthew Pinniger was soon to follow and the Steeton middle order came and went in rapid succession.

Captain Andy smith tried hard to get the innings back on track, but Booth and Brittaion had a tight grip. Only some bright hitting by Phil Barrett got Steeton past three figures before Knaresborough claimed their prize.

Steeton now have to pick themselves up from the dfeat and make sure they escape the drop to Division B.

Knaresborough 156-8

Steeton101

Knaresborough: J Corcoran b Saxton 22, M Standford c Barrett b Taylor 20, B Crabtree c Pinninger b Boulton 43, P Thomson c Smith b Saxton 1, B Lunt c Hedges b Boulton 25, J Dodman run out 7, S Carey b N Spragg 2, S Booth b Boulton 21, R Tattersall not out 5, extras 10. Total 156-8.

Bowling: Chris Taylor 17-4-48-1, Guy Saxton 14-3-36-2, Neil Spragg 8-1-21-1, Gary Boulton 6-0-41-3.

Steeton: R Wynn lb Booth 2, R Newton c Thompson b Brittain 25, M Pinninger b Brittain 10, N Spragg b Booth 8, M Hedges c S Carey b S Booth 1, D Robinson b Booth 2, A Smith st Tattersall b Booth 19, G Saxton lbw Brittain 3, G Boulton c Standford b Booth 1, P Barrett not out 16, C Taylor b Booth 3, extras 11. Total 101.

Bowling: M Brittain 20-8-38-3, S Booth 19.4-6-53-7.

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