KEIGHLEY welcomed second-placed Carlton to Lawkholme at the weekend in Division One of the Bradford Premier League.

Looking for a third league win a row, Keighley posted 228-8 before reducing Carlton to 104-7.

But the hosts failed to take another wicket, and the visitors cantered to a remarkable three-wicket victory.

Keighley skipper Scott Etherington won the toss and opted to bat first on a fine-looking batting track.

But Carlton are not second for nothing and with disciplined bowling, plus some poor shot selection, Keighley found themselves at 78-4.

But Keighley have unearthed some good homegrown talent in Nathan Storton and Ben Hemsley and the pair patiently rebuilt, with Storton scoring 52 and Hemsley 62.

This gave skipper Etherington the platform and opportunity to swing the bat at the end and his 54 not out saw Keighley to 228-8 at the break with maximum batting points.

Carlton’s reply saw wickets tumbling early on as Keighley’s bowlers tore through their line-up.

With overseas star Noah McFadyen (4-72) in particularly good form, Carlton were reduced to 104-7, and the home side looked certain to win.

But Carlton’s overseas man Kershaski John Lewis stood firm despite the carnage that had developed around him and eventually he found a partner in Carlton’s skipper Thomas Taylor (45 not out).

The pair dramatically changed the game, and Keighley’s bowlers had no answer to the West Indian, who was in fantastic form, bludgeoning 136 not out off 120 deliveries to guide his team to an unlikely three-wicket win.

Etherington was disappointed with his side’s ineffectiveness in being able to finish off what should have been a victory.

The firsts will look to make amends when they travel to Morley this coming weekend.

Keighley’s second eleven also suffered, going down by 88 runs at Sandal in Reserves Division Two of the Bradford Premier League.

Stand in Keighley skipper Louie Wilkinson lost the toss and was asked to field first.

Sandal opener John Bowett, with a brisk 54, led from the front but it was Mark Smith that caused the greatest damage.

He took advantage of some poor Keighley bowling in his 100 off just 91 deliveries, helping his team post a challenging 236-8 at the interval.

The pick of the Keighley bowlers was veteran Steve Butterfield, with 3-38.

Losing main batsman Humayan Shahzad early on, Keighley’s batting line-up stuttered to a disappointing 148 all out in reply, with only Mohammed Hussain offering any resistance with his 46.

The reserves will look to make amends when they entertain Hopton Mills at Lawkholme this Saturday.