TONG Park Esholt have lost four of their five matches in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division, but came close to a big scalp at pacesetters Otley.

TPE were asked to bat and made 216-9, with the last two wickets putting on 96.

That was chiefly down to No.6 Saqib Mir, who finished on 57 not out off 63 balls, including eight fours and a six, as he was superbly supported by tailenders Usman Munir (27) and Joe Wallace (9no).

Otley were in control of their wickets in the reply, but the runs per over was another matter.

In the end, they scrambled over the line, only triumphing by four wickets off the first ball of the final over, visiting bowler Nick Smith taking 2-22 from his 10 overs.

Esholt are next-to-bottom on 40 points, and Saltaire risk being dragged into a relegation battle as well after a third defeat of the season.

They were asked to bat at home to Burley, and will have been disappointed to only score 156, skipper Sajad Ali making 56 not out at No.8, which was easily the highest score of the innings.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sajad Ali batted well for Saltaire, but his teammates failed to back him up, meaning opponents Burley cruised to a comfortable win.Sajad Ali batted well for Saltaire, but his teammates failed to back him up, meaning opponents Burley cruised to a comfortable win. (Image: Andy Garbutt.)

Burley rarely looked in bother in their reply, winning by five wickets in the 44th over, despite Ihsan Ihsanullah taking 3-44 from 15 overs.

Saltaire are ninth in the table, with just 11 points separating Pool in eighth from next-to-bottom Esholt.

Bolton Villas still have some breathing space in Division One, despite a 12-run defeat at home to fifth-placed Olicanian which saw the Bradford side slip down to eighth.

Nachiket Verlekar was the most successful Villas bowler with 3-57, with Zeeshan Haider, Adam Shabir and Mahboob Hussain each picking up two wickets in Olicanian’s score of 194.

Haider then scored 70 at No.8, made off just 62 balls, to take Villas close at 182, putting on 61 for the last wicket with skipper Hussain, whose contribution was a princely two not out.

Bingley Congs were also narrowly beaten, as their batting failed at Leeds Modernians in a Division Two match where 20 wickets fell for just 198.

Mods, who chose to bat, made 108, with overseas Jarrod Klauer taking 4-37 and Neil Copping 3-20.

Four Congs players then made double figures, but with a top score of only 21, coming from teenage keeper Jacob Rees, they were dismissed for 90.

Thackley did slightly better with the bat at Old Leodiensians, but still lost by three wickets.

The visitors’ innings of 125 was dominated by opener Ryan MacMillan, who made 65 off 53 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.

Only Harvey Matthews (18) accompanied him into double figures, however, and Leos won in the 36th over, despite three Thackley bowlers taking two wickets, including Muhammad Shoaib (2-2).