Haworth turn up the heat on leaders (From Keighley News)

Haworth turn up the heat on leaders

1:14pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in Sport By Trevor Coe

Division One Haworth took advantage of leaders Haw-orth Road’s second abandonment to cut the gap at the top to just one point.

While no play was possible for the Baildon Bottom side at Airedale, the Bronte outfit overcame Oakworth at West Lane.

Haworth struggled to 109, with Gary Binns making 30 as Michael Scarborough (5-43) and Adam Smith (4-44) did the damage.

But Oaks found runs even harder to come by and were dismissed for 85, with Smith making 23 as Binns took 6-52.

Lurking just a couple of points behind Haworth are Crossflatts, who are coming up fast on the rails.

They saw off Barrowford by 84 runs at Bradford Road. Qumar Ayub (59) was in the runs again and, together with Lee Bailey (33no), helped the hosts to 176.

The Bull Holme side tumbled from 81-3 to 92 all out in reply as A Saeed took 5-22 and Ayub 3-8.

Thornton rattled up the day’s highest score, 240-8, at home to Embsay with Jonny Martin (54) leading the way.

The Shires Laners were down and out at 70-8 but a brilliant ninth-wicket partnership of 148 threatened to snatch the points, only for the overs to run out.

Skipper David Wellock made a superb 118no and Ben Keane 22no as Laycock took 4-64 and Jason Lockley 3-53.

Adie Dibb (5-22) helped Bingley Congs restrict Bradley to 115 in South Craven. The hosts had useful contributions from James Heseltine (35) and Matt Buck-master (31).

The Beckfoot visitors put on 66 for the first wicket before losing another six getting to the target in the 42nd over. Tom Keighley scored 34 and Chris Dibb 32.

Cullingworth made a disastrous start at home to Ingrow.

They stood at 7-4 before recovering well to reach 183, thanks to a partnership of 95 by Graham Rankin (51) and S Murphy (47), assisted by a tail-end knock of 32 by Adie Powis.

Martin Casey was Ingrow’s chief destroyer with 5-42 off 12 overs.

The Hainworth side were never quite on course and fell 18 runs short of their target. Wayne Exley top-scored with 38 as Luke Taylor claimed 4-63.

l Second-placed Division Five side Cowling II crashed by eight wickets at Bronte Fields where Matty Lee (50no) and Alan Fothergill (4-28 and 47) were the stars for Oakworth III. Leaders Pendle Forest II lost at home to Foulridge.