Crossflatts knocked off the top of the pile

3:41pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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The weather may well have been a nuisance this season but it is causing some strange results which are leading to a tense end of season at both top and bottom of divisions of the Mewies Solicitors Craven and District Cricket League.

DIVISION ONE

Leaders Crossflatts made the short journey to Sandy Lane and came unstuck as they crashed to a 32-run defeat. The home side went first and were restricted to 128 with Rashid Ayub taking 4-25 and Qamar Ayub 3-32. Sandy Lane then knocked the visitors over for just 96 with F Akram taking 4-34 and Michael Roberts 3-17.

That defeat drops Crossflatts to second spot and the new leaders are Cullingworth who are coming through with a timely run. They went to Glusburn and restricted them to 109 in their innings. Neil Hargreaves top scored with 33no as Gareth Marshall with 4-29 was the best of five bowlers used. Marshall followed this with 51 to set up a solid two-wicket victory.

Oakworth are third, three points behind the leaders, after they slumped to a 30-run defeat at Bingley Congs in a low-scoring game. Bingley were indebted to Andrew Copping who made 51 out of a modest 97 as Jason Bilbrough took 3-29 and Graham Rankin 3-45. Chris Hemsley 5-34 and Neil Copping 4-4 shot the Cure Hill side out for just 67 in reply.

Embsay move into fourth spot after doing the double over Bradley at Shires Lane. The home side went first and Simon Bailey 35 and John Metcalfe 28 helped them to 140-9 in their overs as Neil Robinson claimed 6-41 and James Heseltine 3-41. The visitors crashed to 90 all out with Metcalfe and Bailey combining with the ball this time. The former took 6-32 off 19 overs and the latter 3-51 off 18.1 overs. Opener Chris Capstick carried his bat with a battling 39no.

Bottom side Barrowford travelled up the A56 to tackle losing Wynn Cup finalists Thornton. The latter were in a similar frame of mind as they were in the final. They struggled to 99 in 35 overs with Marc Procter making 28 as S Butt 5-36 did the damage. Barrowford lost a couple of cheap wickets before A Wray (38) and Butt (26no) took them to the points by six wickets in the 28th over.

Probably the most significant game at the bottom was that between ninth placed Cononley and tenth placed Cowling at Keighley Road. The visitors batted first and made 127 with D Wilkinson and T Kassis both making 22 as M Zulfiqar finished with 5-16. The home side strolled to a six-wicket win with Gareth Frankland scoring 39.

That victory sees Cowling slip above Cononley on run rate and they are just three points clear of Bingley Congs who in turn are a point ahead of Barrowford.

DIVISION TWO

Leaders Haworth Road will definitely be playing the top division next season. They need to win one more game out of the last three to go up as champions.

They entertained Pendle Forest and with both side missing at least five first team players each it was going to be interesting to see who coped better with that adversity.

Haworth Road went first and were on the back foot at 47-4. Stand-in skipper Richard Gill was joined by Shami Ali and they took the score to 119 where the latter went for 29. Gill finally was run out for 64 thanks to a fantastic throw by Simon Turpin. The last over produced three wickets as the total progressed to 165-9 in the overs. Pendle were never at the races as Nick Griggs claimed the first six wickets and finished with 6-29 as the innings closed on 52.

Second placed Haworth were involved in a dramatic finish at home to third placed Ingrow. Ingrow had been restricted to 81 in their overs, after being 73-5, with Mark Price recording the highest score of 18 as Damian Rowell took 5-17 and Andy Godden 3-7.

The hosts made a horrendous start to stand 16-5 then Rowell and Richard Powell pulled things around before the former went for 26. Powell then marshalled the tail before hitting the winning runs with just one wicket remaining. Ian Roberts took 6-37 off 19.1 overs and Dale Hoyle 3-28. One more victory and the Bronte side will make a speedy return to the top flight.

In fourth place are Wilsden who had few problems seeing off visitors Airedale by 89 runs. Neil Jagger (52) and Ben Peirson (4-19) were the best performers for the winners whilst Mick Feather took 5-18 for the losers.

Colin Bottomley the bat became Colin Bottomley the ball as he took 7-26 over at Chatburn to see them back to the hut for 78. Ingrow St John's didn't have it all their own way as they lost nine wickets reaching their target in the 39th over.

Home side Long Lee secured their safety as they got past Sutton by three wickets. Jamie Robinson took 5-32 as the South Craveners made 129-8. James Wilkinson made 44 for the Keighley side.

Foulridge all but confirmed their place next season also as they beat Denholme by 126 runs. John Lambert made one of the days two centuries, 141, as Foulridge scored 223-7. The visitors reply was a bit of a mystery. They made 97-1 in 45 overs with David Wear scoring 49no.

Airedale cannot avoid the drop because if they won their last three games they would still not be able to match Foulridge's six victories.

DIVISION THREE

Glusburn II, the team with the only unbeaten record throughout the league, slipped up at Carleton.

Neville Allen helped Carleton to 138-7 in their innings. Glusburn II were then knocked over for just 64 with Gareth Wooler getting a hat-trick in his return of 6-30. In fact he took four wickets in five balls.

Despite the defeat the South Craveners could savour promotion back to the second division - one more win and they will be champions.

Second placed Skipton CI failed to take advantage of that slip up by the leaders. They too tumbled to defeat against Oakworth II. The Cure Hill side rattled up 225-6 with Michael Clegg scoring 80 and veteran Jeff Inman 36. Ian Burke and Paul Mason both made 42 as the Skipton side slipped to 154 all out.

Third placed Ingrow St John's II also lost at home to Cowling II. The visitors were knocked over for a moderate 70 with Ricky Cleaver making 29no. The Saints were knocked over for 59 in reply with M Gulnawaz taking 6-11. Cowling II jump up to third a point ahead of Ingrow St John's II.

Long Lee II had a day to forget after their visit to Gargrave. M Shahnawaz took 6-19 as the home side were dismissed for 84. The Keighley side were then humbled to 37 all out with Tom Cowburn taking 5-19 and Pete Carey 5-13.

Airedale II couldn't raise a side - again - so Embsay II receives three points. The League Executive committee are very concerned about Airedale II. However they understand the club will be holding a meeting on Tuesday night to decide their future.

DIVISION FOUR

Riddlesden made short work of Cullingworth II at Roydwood Terrace. The home side were knocked over for 64 for only former first teamer Paddy Clark reaching double figures, 20. J Haliday was the best bowler with 4-10 off eight overs. Riddlesden dashed to victory by ten wickets in only 5.5 overs with R Jain leading the way with a brutal 58no.

Haworth West End occupy second spot at the moment just one point ahead of Eldwick & Gilstead. The Bronte side were at Bradley and saw them off by seven wickets.

Eldwick were inactive when Chatburn II were unable to raise a side.

Ingrow II and Haworth II battled it out and it was the Bronte side who took the spoils by 48 runs. Ben Bright (45) and Derek Bright (5-29) were the stars for the winners whilst Ian Herbert took 4-44 for the losers.

Nine man Crossflatts II were no match for Sandy Lane II and went down by nine wickets.

DIVISION FIVE

Cononley II march on at the top of the division, although that lead is only one point over Wilsden II. The South Craveners were at home to Gargrave II and were victorious by 58 runs. Chris Lumsden (36) and Andrew Town (7-20) were the stars for the victors.

Wilsden II were at Sandylands to tackle Skipton CI II and they made 94 in their innings. The winners then collapsed to 23 all out with S Mahmood taking 5-14 and M Riaz 5-7.

Bingley Congs II J Johnson scored the other century of the day, 101no, as his side blasted 224-3. He was assisted by J Hill 66 and R Andrews 48. Opponents Haworth West End II had a fair go at matching that total but the fell 23 short with five wickets left. Sam Chipman made 63.

Glusburn III went down by 91 runs at Riddlesden II and Denholme II could only manage 33 in reply to next to bottom side Pendle Forest III 94.

Finally there was no play between Oakworth III and Foulridge II because of ground conditions and Sutton II conceded three points to Eldwick & Gilstead II when they couldn't raise a team.