At long last a fine, hot Saturday to play cricket, and the Craven and District League players responded with "it's too hot!

DIVISION ONE There was drama at the top of the Mewies Solicitors first division. Leaders Bradley were along the lane at Glusburn and were involved in a tense finish which went down to the penultimate ball. Glusburn batted first and made 178 with Matt Lloyd making 45 and Nigel Hargreaves as Matty Simpson claimed 5-46 off 13.1 overs. Chris Capstick and Neil Andrews put on 89 for Bradley's first wicket before the latter perished for 54. Capstick went for 36 to make it 105-3. Six more wickets fell getting the score to 173. The last pair John Riddiough and John Duffy got the leaders over the line with just one ball to spare. Aussie J Cruse finished with 4-70 from 15 overs.

Crossflatts are in second after they beat Cononley. Visitors Crossflatts went first and hammered 231-7 in their overs with Bas Khan making 80 as Aussie T Kassis took 4-67. Cononley were then dismissed for 150 with youngster Freddie Osadzenko scoring 56no and Rashid Ayub taking 6-35.

Cullingworth move into third spot after they beat the previous occupiers, Embsay, by 29 runs. Cullingworth made 191-7 in their overs lead by Steve Welch with 61 and Nigel Brett 49 as Simon Bailey took 4-58. Embsay were down and out at 129-9 before Adam Longden 20no and Scott Robinson got the score to 162 when Robinson went for eight. South African Brannon Varley finished with 5-60 and Dave Hall 4-53. Rhys Davies made 34 and Bailey 26 for the losers.

Oakworth remain level with Cullingworth after demolishing Wynn Cup finalists Thornton in fine style. Oakworth plundered 252-4 with Michael Scarborough making 88, Robert Hopkinson 63 and Joel Gallagher 49 before Thornton slumped to 97 all out with Jason Bilbrough taking 4-36.

Cowling dragged themselves a little further from the relegation zone as they defeated Sandy Lane. First S Hasson with 59 and Gareth Frankland 45 helped Cowling to 214 despite a fine piece of bowling by A Qadeer who took 8-39. Sandy Lane collapsed to 82 all out with Steve Richardson being the best bowler with 4-25.

The basement battle at Beckfoot saw home side Bingley Congs go down to Barrowford by two wickets and swap places at the bottom. Bingley Congs posted 170-7 with Chris Dibb making 56no and Chris Hemsley 32 as S Butt took 3-49 and Mark Atkinson 3-53. For Barrowford, Butt top scored with 47no to go with Greg Boyes's 40 and David Flounders's 36 which saw them to the winning post with seven balls to spare. Adie Dibb was the best bowler with 4-64.

DIVISION TWO Leaders Haworth Road are within touching distance of promotion after they saw off third-placed Ingrow. Haworth Road were making steady progress at 116-4 after 33 overs with Chris Griggs having made 51 and Will Burgess 36. However the innings was turned on its head when Shami Ali came to the crease and he blasted 37no off 18 balls, including four sixes and two fours, as he took the total to a formidable 201-9. Dale Hoyle finished with 4-37 and Nas Khan claimed 3-57. Ingrow's innings tracked the visitors' up to the 28th over, with Chris Herbert (46) and Mark Pennington putting on 69 for the first wicket. Then at 87-2, bowlers Andy Gudgeon in tandem with Richard Gill spun Haworth Road to a crushing 72 run victory. Gudgeon finished with 7-36.

Second placed Haworth are now seven points clear of Ingrow after winning by six wickets at home to Pendle Forest. Mark Holdsworth made 39 as Pendle Forest made 147. Damian Rowell (4-26) and Gary Binns (4-39) were the successful bowlers. Binns then made 56 to go with Richard Godden's 45 as Haworth strolled home by six wickets.

Wilsden are a point behind Ingrow after an 86 run victory up at Denholme. Wilsden made 207 with T Peirson making 55 and Steve Wilson 32. The two then combined to take three wickets each as the home side were dismissed for 121. Bob Taylor made 36 and Joe Greenwood 35.

Chatburn suffered a surprise 58-run defeat at home to next-to-bottom side Long Lee. Long Lee made a moderate 154-8 with Paul Stowell scoring 53 and Mark Day 39. Then Day took 3-24 and Adam Greenwood 6-38 as Chatburn slumped to defeat on 96 all out.

Foulridge easily overcame the challenge of visitors Airedale, winning by 97 runs. Aussie Benno O'Keefe was in the runs again as he was the backbone of Foulridge's 233-8 with 102. He was first out in an opening partnership of 138. Joe Milner took 5-75 off 14 overs. In the Airedale reply of 136, opener Alex Pue top scored with 43 and Milner scored 33 as John Lambert took 7-17 off 10.2 overs. Ingrow St John's saw off visitors Sutton by 27 runs.

DIVISION THREE Glusburn II remain top by six points without playing. Opponents Airedale II were unable to raise a team for the fourth time this season. The club are desperately short of players and are having a meeting this week to decide what to do regarding their second team for the rest of this season.

Second placed Skipton CI had a comfortable eight wicket win over at Barrowford II, whilst third placed Ingrow St John's II won by four wickets at Gargrave.

Cowling II made hard work of winning at nine-man Long Lee II. Long Lee II had Shahbaz Ahmed, who made 58, to thank for their 147-8. The visitors then took 39 overs to reach their target. M Zulfiqar scored 52 and opener Steve Dalby 42no.

Oakworth II's Jack Hainsworth was in sparkling form at Haworth Road II. The 16-year-old scored a superb 119 as his side clattered 245-8. Haworth Road II crumpled to 90 all out in their reply.

Embsay II enjoyed a narrow three wicket victory over Carleton. Colin Ridehalgh 5-45 and Simon Holt 3-18 helped send Carelton back to the hut for 101. It took 35no from Rob Youngman to get Embsay II to the winning post as Gareth Wooler took 6-46.

DIVISION FOUR Riddlesden were impressive 104 run victors at Bradley II. Riddlesden made 185-9 with Nasar Kamal making 66 and Rishabh Jain 38 as Tim Rudden took 5-60 off 22 overs and Andy Holmes 4-81. Bradley II could only muster 81 in reply.

There was a run feast at Penistone Park where second placed Haworth West End entertained Cullingworth II. The visitors went first and amassed 230 with Ryan Clark top scoring with 69. Haworth WE roared back but took until the final ball to reach their target. Callum Jones made 91 and Andy Holt 55.

Eldwick & Gilstead are just a point behind Haworth WE after they made the short journey to the valley bottom at Crossflatts II and comfortably came away with the points. Eldwick & Gilstead made 181-9 in their innings with R Unsworth making 70 and J Roach 38, despite the efforts of Bob Scott (4-16) and Mark Jones (4-29). Haworth WE then crumpled to 107-9 as Darren Mason made 36 and A Maude and M Dean took three wickets each.

There were two centuries in the game at Thornton where Ingrow were the visitors. Tony Crook scored the highest score of the day 121no as Ingrow plundered 209-9 with Paul Giles taking 3-18 and Steve Laycock 3-58. In Thornton's creditable reply of 178-9, James Cowgill made a super 103 as Nick Crook took 4-69 and veteran Ian Herbert 3-22.

Haworth II saw off Pendle Forest II by 80 runs. After securing their place in the Cowling Cup final Sandy Lane II were brought down to earth with a tremendous bump by Chatburn II who won by 67 runs.

DIVISION FIVE The fifth division is bubbling up nicely with four teams within four points. Leaders Bingley Congs II came unstuck away to Riddlesden losing by four wickets which drops them to third spot.

Taking over at the top are Cononley II who won by seven wickets at Sutton II thanks mainly to John Stead who took 4-48 and veteran John Pearson (92no).

Mark Jagger (87) and Alex Jowett (55) put on 132 for the first wicket while S Mahmood took 6-34 as they shone in Wilsden II's 103 run victory over Denholme II, which moves them into second spot. Glusburn III are in fourth place after beating Oakworth III. Eldwick & Gilstead II went down by seven wickets at home to Gargrave II and Skipton CI II saw off Foulridge II. Pendle Forest III were unable to raise a side against Haworth WE II.