Theakston Nidderdale League: Upper Wharfedale CC underline title credentials with demolition of Alne CC

The Premier Division leaders recorded a seventh consecutive win to edge a point further ahead at the summit having blown their hosts away for just 39 runs.

Callum Eggleton was in near-unplayable form with the ball, snapping up 6-15, while Tom Baines took 3-17.

Their efforts left Alne well short of Wharfedale’s first-innings total of 209/2.

Earlier, Australian import Damon Malcolm had continued his superb season, smashing 117 not out alongside captain Callum Lockett to put the Rams in charge.

Killinghall, who sit 11 points worse off in second place, overcame fifth-placed Goldsborough in what was a close contest.

Luke Haidar (57) and Sam Halliday (45) led the title hopefuls to 193/8 and that score proved to be just beyond the defending champions.

Stalwart Jarrod McPhee hit 80 alongside Liam Walsh (36), however a lower-order collapse meant that Goldsborough were all out on 171 in the end.

Haidar completed a fine afternoon’s work by grabbing 4-26, while Billy MacGregor (4-58) also did the business for Killinghall.

Third-placed West Tanfield remain very much in contention as far as the title race is concerned following their seven-wicket success at home to mid-table Birstwith.

Craig Robinson (51) struck a defiant half-century for the visitors, but they were sent packing for 107 thanks largely to some excellent bowling by Angus Shaw (4-14) and Vincent Bush (4-29).

Bush then made 33 as Tanfield went on to complete a seven-wicket triumph which leaves them 21 points shy of pole position.

At the opposite end of the division, Knaresborough Forest recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this term when they got the better of fellow strugglers Harrogate 3rds.

Bottom of the table at the start of play, a 63-run win sees Forest leapfrog their opponents and move to within 15 points of safety with three games left to play.

Tyler Cant (89 not out) was the mainstay of the away team’s 164/6, while Henry Hopkinson chipped in with 32.

Danny Pugsley claimed 3-47 for ‘Gate, who were then knocked over for only 89 in reply.

Allround ace Hopkinson helped himself to 4-39, and Jono Bradley (4-49) also shone for Forest.

Third-from-bottom Ben Rhydding will head into the final three weeks of the season looking nervously over their shoulder after their 116-run reverse at the hands of Blubberhouses saw the gap to the bottom two narrow significantly.

Skipper Aamir Rehman (56) and Muhammad Qadeer (45) top-scored as Blubbs put 268/9 on the board in 45 overs.

C Foulger (5-55) and Charlie Hatton (3-22) fared well with the ball in hand, however Ben Rhydding’s batsmen found the going tough.

Nobody managed more than Hatton’s knock of 33 as 4-31 from Abhishek Patil helped end the home response on 152 all out.

Fourth-placed Helperby’s clash with mid-table Walton Park was abandoned due to the weather with the visitors 185/8 after 45 overs.

Duncan Spencer (35) and Angus Taylor (34) batted well for Park, while Charlie Lawrence took four of the wickets to fall.