AFTER a wretched start to the Aire-Wharfe League Division Two season, in which they suffered five straight heavy defeats, Thackley finally felt the elation of victory when Muhammad Khurshid (55no) saw them past Steeton’s 214-8 with two wickets in hand.

On earlier displays, Steeton’s total, in which Andrew Foulds (44) and Freddie Pearson (43) top scored, looked well beyond Thackley.

But former Brighouse batsman Khurshid dug deep and, with the help of Stefan Mather (31) and Umar Farooq (34) and an invaluable ten not out from skipper Shane Marshall, they finally ended their drought.

There were happy faces too among the Ben Rhydding players, who crushed promotion hopefuls Leeds Modernians and underlined their own potential to reach the top flight.

Shane Wineti’s second century of the season - 115 including ten fours - helped Ben Rhydding reach 296-6 before Alex Miller (5-34) and Henry Barrow (3-41) bowled out the home side for 132.

At the other end of the table, Addingham secured an encouraging win over Kirkstall in which Robert and Daniel Ellis played a major part.

Daniel took 4-37 and Robert 3-14 as the visitors were bowled out for 187 and, after Ben Brearley (67) and Ted Haggas (47) laid the foundations, the cousins each hit an unbeaten 18 to clinch the two-wicket win.

If this does prove to be Tong Park Esholt’s final match at their old ground, they certainly signed off in style with a win over Skipton.

Mahir Ali fired six sixes in his half-century as Park were dismissed for 201, with Iqbal Khan taking 4-29 and Ben Holderness 3-38.

Ali (3-44) and Nick Flood (3-32) restricted Skipton to 166 but not before Khan kept up the theme of swashbuckling bowlers hitting out, landing three fours and four sixes in making 41 in 21 balls.

Tom Westerman (3-36) and Thomas Simpson (4-40) dismissed leaders Adel for 169 but Calverley’s batting couldn’t match their bowling and they fell 64 short.

Chris Brown (40) and Mark McEneaney (47) were the mainstay of Hall Park’s 203-7 but it wasn’t enough to beat Follifoot, who went past them with five wickets in hand.

Harden heated up the Division Three title race by beating leaders Saltaire, who needed a seventh-wicket stand of 59 between Adeel Ashraf (47) and Feyal Akram (30no) to reach 202.

Half-centuries from Tom Cummins and Paul Quinlan led Harden’s successful run chase.

Saltaire’s defeat allowed Olicanian to take over at the top after Harry Smallwood (4-39 and 33) and Kervon Christmas (46) starred in their 44-run win over Alwoodley.

Openers Waleed Akhtar (86) and Ian Hawkridge (52) shared a century stand to put Green Lane on the way to 261-9 at New Rover.

The home side looked set to chase this down when Hanzak Mir (97) and Nathan Brand (68no) hit 128 for the sixth wicket, but Mir’s run out slowed things slightly and Lane clinched victory by five runs.

Henry Wilson (7-13) and Rob Spivey (3-27) skittled Colton out for 63 and, even though Ilkley lost a wicket on the third ball of their innings, Jonathan Hughes (32no) and Jibrael Malik (27no) clinched the win that takes them clear of the Division One basement.

Charlie Bell (78) and Patrick Dixon (56) were top scorers in Pool’s 251 before David Amos (4-44) and Sam Wilkinson (3-30) bowled out struggling North Leeds for 111.

Beckwithshaw continue to head the table after inching past Guiseley’s 150 with four wickets to spare but Burley remain hot on their heels after a narrow victory at Rawdon.

Richard Brook (47), Nick Brook (41), Ed Brown (40) and Jason Wright (47) all made important contributions to Burley’s 243 but had to work hard for their win when Andrew Duckworth (44) top-scored as Rawdon fell just 12 runs short of the mark.