RIDDLESDEN are looking more and more likely to win Division Two and Division One of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League in successive seasons.

A 22-run win at Denholme has put them 22 points ahead of Cowling in the top flight with a game in hand – ironically against Denholme on Sunday, August 13.

Sent in, Riddlesden made 135, which was underwhelming as they had been 131-4, courtesy of Zahir Abbas (39) and skipper Mohammed Gulnawaz (22).

Ryan Clark, the sixth bowler used by Denholme, took 4-8, with Adrian Shires returning 3-40.

Denholme were 52-8 in reply, but tailenders Clark (24) and Mick Henry (33no) caused a few flutters before they were dismissed for 113.

The wickets were shared, with Moin Ahsan taking 3-44, Mohammed Ishtiaq (2-1) and Abbas 2-7.

The promotion race in Division Two is incredibly tight, with Airedale and Glusburn joint leaders on 133, with Bradley third on 130.

Bradley put themselves right in the mix with their three-wicket derby win at home to Glusburn.

Glusburn, sent in, made 152-8, collapsing from 52-1 to 66-5 before reviving.

Matt Lloyd (23) and Dave Henson (37) put on 33 for the first wicket before a combination of bowlers rifled through their middle order.

Yet Zahid Iqbal (25no) and Mark Johnston (17no) added 36 unbroken at the end, providing some tail-wagging.

Bradley were put on the road to victory by opener Dave Hunt (32) and keeper Iklaq Ahmed (50), who added 59 for the second wicket.

Wickets then fell regularly before Bradley got over the line in the 33rd over.

Danny Ridehalgh caused a few flutters with his 4-43.

Skipton CI, who are only eight points above the relegation, dismissed visitors Airedale for 113, a total that was largely down to Raja Mohammed Adnan’s 66, made from 90 deliveries and containing five fours and two sixes.

However, the Keighley side did go from 52-2 to 52-5 and 60-5 to 67-8, with only opener Jan Haider (25) and Scott Whittam Ritchie (10) also making double figures.

However, only three CI players then troubled then scorers unduly as they were castled for 72 against a three-pronged attack of Whittam-Ritchie (3-28), Saqib Javaid (3-20) and Asad Moghul (3-7).

In Division Three, Cononley lost for the second week in a row, but it too early to say if they are again suffering from the summer blues.

They sent in Gargrave II at Cononley Sports Ground but were on the wrong end of the innings of the day, with Dom Kay making an astonishing 122 out of their 185, or 122 out of 164 while he was at the crease, as they recovered from 22-5.

Harry Parker (5-44) and Willie Naylor (3-41) did the early damage.

Six Cononley players made double figures in the reply, but no-one got more than Andrew Starkey’s 25 as they were dismissed for 131.

However, Cononley are still second, but now only 20 points ahead of Gargrave II.

Bingley Congs III are fourth after winning a tight contest at Cowling II by six runs.

Congs, sent in, made 192-8, with Sajid Shafait (3-44) and Ubaid Rauf (2-41) among the wickets.

Cowling were then dismissed for 186, which was tough luck on Mohammed Abdullah Iqbal (73) and Haseeb Majid (33).

Glusburn II are up to third in Division Four after an eight-wicket home win over Hepworth & Idle III, who made 122 after being sent in, a clatter of wickets falling after they were 108-2.

Qasim Dar (5-23) and Amir Javed (4-22) were responsible for the collapse, but Glusburn were then 10-2 themselves after tea.

However, an unbroken stand of 113 took them to victory, with Sam Britten ending on 43 not out and Basharat Hussain 64 not out.

Britten hit six fours and a six, and Hussain 11 fours as they closed in on promotion rivals Sutton II (132) and Bowling Baptist II (115), who they trail by just eight points.