HARDEN lost a thriller at Olicanian in Aire-Wharfe League Division One, an unbroken last-wicket partnership of 21 taking the home side to victory with eight balls to spare.

The visitors opted to bat and made 201-9, Elliot Wilson (23) and skipper Andy Wear (54) giving them a solid start with a stand of 44, Wear, who hit five fours, then adding 55 for the third wicket with keeper Will Grace.

The latter was last out for 61, including nine fours, on a day when fast scoring was difficult, Tom Starkey finishing with 5-33.

Olicanians’ highest stand was 47, but heart-breakingly for Harden, Ollies snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Wear did his best to get his team over the line by taking 5-45, but the loss leaves Harden third-from-bottom on 36 points, with one point separating four teams, Calverley being cast adrift at the bottom on 12 points.

Although they obviously want to finish higher, Steeton are bang on course for their estimated final placing in the Premier Division.

They won the toss at home to struggling Bilton and dismissed them for 119, despite the visitors being 63-1.

Overseas Tremaine Dowrich (3-31) saw off the lower order, the accurate Stephen Pearson backing him up well with 2-27, with all the Steeton bowlers having accurate figures.

An opening stand of 45 between James Robinson (14) and Luke Chapman (37no) saw Steeton on their way, and Paul Quinlan (23) and Pearson (12no) helped to finish the job off for the loss of four wickets inside 30 overs.

Steeton are now eighth, which is smack between their stated early-season hope of finishing as high as seventh and as low as ninth.