THE improved form of Oxenhope continued as they recorded a second successive win in a close game at Sowerby St Peters in Division One.

The visitors batted first as father and son Darren and Lewis Hopkinson anchored the innings, with dad Darren hitting a fine 84 at the top of the order and son Lewis contributing 29 after a familiar mini-collapse saw them in trouble at 116-6.

Spencer Mawer continued his fine form with 32no as they reached a total of 210-9, with Chris Punda taking four wickets for the home side. Sowerby always looked favourites as Brook (44), Watkins (30), Schofield (43) and Hoyle (45) took them to the brink of victory at 188-5 but Stuart Jackson had other ideas as he swept through the lower order, taking 4-24 and snatching victory in the last over as the hosts were dismissed for 197.

Oxenhope II recorded another comfortable victory, this time at home to Denholme Clough. Runs came all down the order, Luke Fleetwood top-scoring with 37 on the way to a modest total of 204-9 as Shohaib Balawar took 4-51 for the visitors. Clough never really threatened the total, with Andy Parkinson carrying his bat for 50no while Robin Cusdin did the damage for Oxenhope, taking 5-38 as Denholme were dismissed for 125 with just a couple of overs remaining.

Oxenhope II also progressed in the Crossley Shield with a four-wicket victory over Luddendenfoot on a cold and blustery day at Oxenhope. The visitors were put in to bat and Whittenham, at the top of the order, anchored the innings with a patient 68.

However, at 76-4 the home side were on top. Bairstow joined Whittingham to push the score on to 164 before the stand was broken by Luke Fleetwood. Bairstow went on to a fine 66no, but four wickets from Craig Bartlett restricted them to 198-8.

Oxenhope's reply centred around a controlled 77 from opener Brendan Ellison but three wickets from Smith gave Luddendenfoot a chance. That chance of victory disappeared when Nathan Storton (33no) and Tom Marshall (30) saw the hosts home.