SALTAIRE are now leading the chase to catch Otley in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division.

They won by 58 runs at defending champions Collingham & Linton to overtake them in second place.

Saltaire won the toss and chose to bat, which may not have seemed the wisest decision when they were 57-6, but partnerships of 70 and 63 followed as the visitors showed their capacity to bat down the order.

Captain Sajad Ali shouldered the main responsibility, scoring 71 off 64 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, and added runs with Ihsan Ihsanullah (30) and Tawkal Zadran (43) as Saltaire finished on 222.

Collingham were 72-2 in reply, but then collapsed to 96-7 before they recovered to make 164, with change bowlers Ihsanullah (4-33) and Haroon Abadkhel (3-47) making the difference.

Meanwhile, Tong Park Esholt won a low-scoring thriller to make it more likely that the two relegation places will come from the current bottom three of Bilton, Steeton and Rawdon.

That would be a nasty double blow for Steeton if they were to go down, given they lost the Waddilove Cup final to Horsforth Hall Park on Sunday too.

As for Tong Park, Saturday's visitors Adel elected to bat and had been 53-1, but were rolled over for 115, with Mahir Ali taking 4-37.

Jake Sali chipped in with 2-8 for Esholt, while Will Rhodes claimed 2-40.

The hosts were also sitting pretty at 73-2 after skipper Dave Hester had scored 35, but they lost seven wickets for 26 runs.

That meant they needed an heroic last-wicket partnership of 17 between Freddie Wallace (13 not out) and Usman Munir (12no) to see them to victory at the end of the 30th over.

In Division One, Bolton Villas secured a vital win to move them away from the relegation zone.

Hosts New Rover chose to bat, but could only make 174 on what is usually a very good deck.

Zeeshan Haider was superb for the visitors, taking 7-59 to trigger a collapse from 115-2.

Overs were never going to be an issue for Villas due to their positive approach, but the loss of wickets might have been.

Nachiket Verlekar struck a rapid 53 to put them well ahead of the required run rate, which meant that Muhammad Ullah (28) and Dev Sehara (51no) could take their time further down the order, as Villas won by three wickets in the 41st over.

Calverley are still bottom, but notched their fourth win of the season to give them some hope of avoiding the drop.

They thrashed their hosts Harden by seven wickets to move up to 112 points, just 22 from safety.

Bingley Congs remain fourth in Division Two, despite losing by one wicket at third-placed Shadwell.

Congs made 248-5 after winning the toss, captain George Hicks (60) and Josh Nutting (94) putting on 98 for the first wicket before Nutting added 120 for the second with Chris Dibb (73).

Chris Dibb played a fine knock for Bingley Congs, but they were edged out by Shadwell in a gripping encounter.Chris Dibb played a fine knock for Bingley Congs, but they were edged out by Shadwell in a gripping encounter. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

However, Shadwell reached their target in the 43rd over, just, after they had bounced back superbly from 101-4.

Alex Bradbury (3-62) was the main reason for Shadwell’s early struggles, while Stefan Mather (3-36) gave Congs a sniff with three late wickets.

Thackley are up one place to ninth after winning by four wickets at home to Green Lane, who made 206 after being sent in, Craig Wiseman taking 6-58.

The home side were 43-4, but were put on the path to victory by Muhammad Shoaib (68no) and captain Jack Holland (49) in a stand of 96.

Shoaib, who then added 61 unbroken with Jack Allport (29), faced 119 deliveries and hit 12 fours, with the win being achieved at the end of the 46th over.

Cellar dwellers Rodley fell to a 13th defeat in 14 matches (the other was rained off), losing by 51 runs at Alwoodley.