THERE was little doubt as to the match of the day in the Aire-Wharfe League Premier Division.
Rawdon, facing a Saltaire score of 287-6 at Larkfield Road, won by one wicket with seven balls to spare.
Saltaire won the toss and only opening bowler George Solti-Dupas (5-0-14-0) could contain them as Ihsan Insanullah (106no) and skipper Sajid Ali (63no) added an unbroken 151 for the seventh wicket.
Rawdon had their own batting hero, however, in Australian Tom Wrigglesworth, who made a match-winning 137 not out off 129 balls – a knock that contained nine fours and eight sixes on his home debut.
It was some way for Rawdon to get off the mark, with Victorian Wrigglesworth adding 83 for the fifth wicket with opener Richard Porter (39), 51 for the seventh with Harry Nicholson (21) and 41 for the eighth with Andrew Doidge (18).
At the head of affairs, Otley have a 15-point lead over defending champions Collingham & Linton after a 65-run victory at Burley.
The visitors, who were missing Alex Atkinson (charity bike ride) had stands throughout their innings, three of them featuring opener Josh Atkinson, who made 72.
He added 47 for the first wicket with Ben Morley (25), 57 for the second with Damon Reeve (28) and 50 for the fourth with Stephen Brown (27), Sam Kellett adding late impetus with 52 off 27 balls, including four fours and four sixes.
Facing a total of 244-9, the reliable Nicky Bulcock having taken 4-43, Burley then lost wickets at regular intervals to be dismissed for 179, despite Jason Krafft making 91 off 79 deliveries, including 11 fours and three sixes.
Change bowlers Roby Lane (4-43) and Brown (3-67) pegged Burley back, with the latter third-from-bottom on just 11 points.
Pool got off the mark in style, triumphing by eight wickets at home to Bilton, who were back in the pavilion for 149 after winning the toss, Will Pallister bagging 4-23 and Krutik Patel 3-43.
The home team’s reply was more than solid, opener Patel anchoring the innings with 45 not out as they won in the 18th over, Logan Duval (35) dominating a first-wicket stand of 46 before Patel added 80 with skipper Charlie Bell (33).
It was a day to forget, however, for Horsforth Hall Park, who were skittled for 47 at Collingham to lose by 189 runs.
Charles Greatbatch, son of former New Zealand Test player Mark, did well to take 4-59 in the home side’s 236-7, but only Priyank Koli (14) and Michael Loubser (13) made double figures after tea as Hall Park were back in the pavilion inside 27 overs.
Division Three champions Guiseley have made a good start in their bid for back-to-back promotions and lead Division One (what was Division Two last year) by a point from Addingham.
However, the Nethermoor club had to hold their nerve to win by one wicket at Harden, skipper Rob Butterfield hitting the last ball for four.
The home side, sent in, made 216, Aniket Rana (6-40) and James Elsworth (2-56) being the only bowlers to take wickets.
Guiseley were sitting pretty at 163-2 after tea, but lost their next seven wickets for 52 to set up the tensest of finales.
The visitors were given a sound start by keeper Viraj Bhosale (73) and James Davey (10), who put on 47, and the good work was continued by Bhosale, whose innings lasted 59 balls and contained 12 fours and two sixes, and Jake Whittaker with 68 for the second wicket.
Whittaker, who ended up with a disciplined 72, including six fours and a six, then added 48 for the third wicket with Rana (21), but only Louis Barker (10) made double figures after that as Harden came back into the contest.
A wagging tail helped Addingham to 214 after they won the toss at home to Bardsey, James Nixon top-scoring with 48 in an innings where seven players made double figures.
Bardsey looked down and out at 55-6, but their lower half performed well to take them to 187, Ricky Palacio (4-38) and Nixon (3-53) getting among the wickets.
Olicanian got off the mark in emphatic style, dismissing hosts Calverley for 46 after the latter won the toss, Manley du Preez (4-16) and Thilip Kumar Sappani (6-29) being the only two bowlers used.
The visitors were 18-3, but breezed home without further loss in just 6.3 overs.
Also chalking up their first win were Ilkley, who made a decent 213 after winning the toss at Follifoot.
In a decent batting display, eight players reaching double figures, headed by Alex Bailey (40), keeper Will Spivey (37) and captain James Pearson (30).
Change bowlers James Bourke (5-43) and Nick Schofield (3-50) then helped dismiss Follifoot for 148 after Paul Dover had taken 2-28.
Menston and Horsforth are among four unbeaten sides in Division Two, with Shadwell also in the mix having got on the field three times to the other’s two.
Leeds Modernians proved easy prey for Menston, who, after being sent in, racked up 324-9, JH Johnson hitting a sensational 155 off a mere 106 balls, an innings that contained 20 fours and four sixes.
After Menston were 64-4, Johnson dominated a fifth-wicket partnership of 148 with McCauley Taylor (50 off 62 balls including seven fours) and the sixth of 50 with Eddie Killerby (18), Ashley Rowden (5-73) eventually dismissing Johnson, who was last man out.
Mods had little stomach for the fight after that onslaught and were skittled for 77 as Menston won by 247 runs, with George Marsden taking 4-9.
Horsforth were tested more, but their batters had the answers at home to Old Leodiensians, who made 237-5 (Saugata Bhattachaya 115) after opting to use the willow.
Tom Colley (121no) batted through the reply, hitting 17 fours, as Horsforth won by seven wickets in the 48th over, putting on 82 with fellow opener Joe O’Gorman (30) and 114 for the third wicket with Brad Moritz (48).
Green Lane won by five wickets as Skipton, whose batting again failed them as they were dismissed for 108, Neil Britton taking 3-22 and Ben Roberts 3-33.
Simon Watson (36) and Chris Bogdanos (22) ensured that there were few alarms after tea as Green Lane won in the 32nd over.
Burley lead Division One for second teams on 57 points after a four-wicket win at Otley made it three out of three and Rob Thomas-inspired Guiseley head Division Two.
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