Theakston Nidderdale League: Helperby pull clear at the top

He hit 27 fours and three sixes in his mammoth knock of 180 not out as the visitors posted 277/7 from their 45 overs on the road at Dacre Banks.

The hosts never really looked like chasing down that score, and despite 63 from Muhammed Khuzafia and Muhammed Siddique’s 40, they ended up well short on 135 all out.

Simon Webster (5-40) and Dan Marston (4-32) impressed with the ball for Helperby, who sit 12 points clear of second-place after four wins from as many games in 2018.

Knaresborough Forest just missed out on their first success of the campaign despite making a sizeable score with the bat.

The division’s bottom side needed just 10 runs for victory at second-placed Darley with two wickets in hand and plenty of deliveries remaining, but from 299/8 they were bowled out for 300.

Matt Parker (110), Aussie Jayden Harris (66) and Joel Ainsley (64) shone for Forest while Joe Furniss effected four dismissals.

Earlier, a huge ton by Scott Clark (152) plus a knock of 51 from Chris Gill had helped Darley post 308/9 despite the efforts of all-round ace Harris, who returned 4-52.

Goldsborough were knocked off the summit after being bowled out by Bishop Thornton with only 61 runs to their name, losing their 100 per cent record in the process.

A trio of wickets apiece for Rob Nelson (3-5) and Jack Kellett (3-18) saw the away team blown away on what was a lively playing surface, and in reply the Curlews raced to a six-wicket victory inside 18 overs.

Birstwith’s batsmen powered them to a 21-run success over reigning champions Ouseburn.

Tom Croston (92), Craig Robinson (58), James Riley (46) and Jon Millward (38) all looked in good touch during the men from The Moss’ 330/6.

Matthew Nicholls (60) and Jamie Bryant (58) both made their way to half-centuries for Ouseburn as they made a good fist of chasing their hosts down, but they eventually dropped below the required run-rate and ran out of overs on 309/7.

Jonny Luty’s five-wicket haul helped West Tanfield to a 16-run triumph over Wath & Melmerby.

Sam Abel (55) struck a half-century in Tanfield’s 158/9, Ben Kettlewell snapping up 3-43 with the ball.

Mitchell Cross (101) then made a defiant century that looked as if it would edge Wath over the line, but when he became the ninth wicket to fall, the visitors’ hopes departed with him.

No other visiting batsman even made it into double-figures on the day and Bobby Hilton’s troops were sent on their way for 142, Luty finishing up with 5-40.

Burton Leonard chalked up back-to-back successes when they inflicted Masham’s second defeat in as many games.

Toby Drummond weighed in with 95 for the hosts whose first innings total of 230/6 ended up being more than sufficient to earn them maximum points.

Masham’s response ended 55 runs short on 175, Ben Fielding their most successful batsman with 42, while Ned Vasey helped himself to 4-28.

Pateley Bridge continue to lead the way in Division Two after crushing Alne at Bewerley Park.

Michael Eglin (81), Luke Clarke (46), Joe Preece (39) and Thomas Simpson all made an impression with the bat in the hosts’ 254/8.

The men from the Magic Circle crumbled in response, only Alex Buteux showing any form as the away innings was halted on 72 thanks largely to Tom Fryer’s excellent haul of 6-28.

Scotton kept pace with the early pace-setters, romping to a 10-wicket win over Harrogate Strays.

Chaz Edmondson’s 30 was the only highlight of the Roosters’ 119 all out in 42.2 overs, Iain Campbell (4-25) and Callum Halliday (3-17) wreaking havoc with some splendid bowling.

Sam Halliday (71) and Callum Halliday (48) wasted no time in knocking off the required runs and finished the job in just 17.4 overs.

A century from Jack William steered Spofforth to their maiden win of 2018, a four-wicket triumph over Blubberhouses.

The visiting number three made 113 not out of his side’s 225/6, James Roberts also chipping in with 46, while Bash Kahn scooped 4-23.

Earlier, Blubberhouses had put 224/8 on the board thanks to 53 from Qamar Ayub, but this total did not prove to be enough.

Simon Dwyer fell agonisingly short of a second century in as many games in Kirk Deighton’s narrow home loss to Raskelf.

Dwyer plundered a massive ton in week three, but was dismissed on 97 this time around, the opener’s innings the mainstay of his team’s 236/8.

Jon Watkins (45) and Matt Wall (38) also contributed, while Sam Porter (6-52) shone with the ball for Raskelf.

Barry Milburn (72) led the visitors’ reply, but they looked in some trouble at 126/6, however Lindon Giuffrida hit 57 lower down the order to win the day with just four balls remaining.

Mark Harland was the pick of the Deighton attack with 3-75.

Burnt Yates remain winless following their failure to chase down Markington’s score of 147.

Robbie Wilberforce smacked 65 for the hosts but received little by way of support as Carl Brockhill bagged 4-19 and Dom Taylor 3-31.

Yates must have fancied their chances of reaching their victory target, but they couldn’t break the shackles and some tight bowling by Graham Bassitt (3-12) and Dave Askew (2-18) saw them restricted to 115 in reply.

Bottom-of-the-table Studley Royal 2nds came off second best when they entertained Killinghall.

Dan Atkinson (61) and Tom Stanford (51) struck half-centuries in ‘Hall’s 216/5, Kieran Fitzell snaffling thee wickets for Royal.

Atkinson then rounded off a fine afternoon’s work with 5-27, only Michael Litterbach (68) showing any real fluency with the willow in hand as the strugglers were all out 83 runs short on 133.