EMBSAY, surprise conquerors of Craven League Division One champions Oakworth the previous week, couldn’t repeat their success at Denholme as they lost by three wickets with nine balls to go.

On a day when bowlers were on top due to slow, low wickets, the Shires Laners were indebted to a fine 100 by Haroon Ali, who was the mainstay of their 166. The home side were 82-6 before Richard Taylor (45no), Adie Shires (20) and Hussnain Ali (22no) steered them to the points.

Oakworth went down to their second successive defeat as they lost to Haworth in a low-scoring 40 over per side game.

The Bronte outfit made 139-8, with Jamie Rowell hitting a 96-ball 78 which included nine fours and three sixes as Joel Fothergill took 4-27 and Adam Smith 3-32.

The Cure Hill side fell just 11 runs short of their target. Matty Lee top-scored with 33 as Richard Ellis took 4-44 and Charlie Shimmin and Rowell took three wickets each.

Foulridge entertained Cowling, who put them in. The Noyna side were rolled over for just 94, with Chris Brooker-Carey top scoring with 26no as Ajmal Choudrhy claimed 3-34. The latter then hit 45no to see the Coliseum side to the points by six wickets as Daz Greenwood took 3-30.

There was no play between Sutton v Bingley Congs, Riddlesden v Crossflatts or Ingrow St John’s v Haworth Road.

Bradley were at home to Wilsden and were dismissed for 101 as James Heseltine made 52 and Dipesh Mistry took 5-18. Steve Wright (31no) and Glenn Stableford (24) took the Windy Grove side to the spoils by six wickets.

Oakworth II made 167 at Chatburn despite 5-30 from Andy Booth and 3-53 from Jonny Lockley. Ollie Stell took 4-9 to whip the Ribble Valley side out for just 99.

Charlie Hainsworth scored the day’s highest score, 115, and Robert Greenwood chipped in with 45 as Haworth Road II rattled up 222-5. Visitors Ingrow St John’s II had only nine men but reached a commendable 175-8, with Naeem Ali 59no and Muhammad Asim 37 being the main scorers as Andy Maude took 4-55 and Ali Asguar 3-40.

Neither of the games between Airedale and Barrowford or Ingrow and Glusburn took place.

Only half the games in Division Three took place.

Nine-man Eldwick & Gilstead posted 125-8 at Gargrave with Michael Brodigan scoring 52 as John Beckwith took 3-7. The Skipton Road side crept home by 2 wickets with Harry McEneaney top scoring with 31 as Arnie Rastrick took 3-34.

Long Lee’s trip to Sandylands proved to be fruitful as they won by 45 runs. For the Golden View side, Matt Taylor made 38, Lee Humphreys 36 and Steve Butterfield 33 as Sam Smith took 5-47 in his 15 allocated overs.

Skipton CI stumbled to 65-8 before No 9 John Stuttard made 37 to go with the earlier effort of 35 from Ian Burke to get their side to 106. For the victors Shabaz Armed took 4-19 and veteran Jamie Robinson 3-17.

In a 25 over per side game at Crossflatts II, visitors Riddlesden II just held on to win by 11 runs. The Grange Road side posted 104-6 with Shehryar Hussain and Steve McGarry both scoring 30 as Charlotte Boulton claimed 3-25. The Rhysworth Park side's Austin Smith scored 59 of their 93 as Imran Mehrban took 3-16.

The playless games were Embsay II v Denholme II, Bingley Cong II v Sandy Lane and Bradford & Bingley III v Cononley.

In Division Four/Five, Barrowford II entertained Oakworth III and ran out winners by 8 wickets. The Cure Hill side could only manage 76 as Arsalaan Ali took 3-4 and Usman Ahmed 3-9. The Bull Holme Oval side galloped home in the 14th over.

In a 25 over per side match at Hepworth & Idle II, visitors Sutton II were restricted to 88-4. The Westfield Laners stormed home by 9 wickets.

Haworth II amassed 156 in Bronte Lane with Neil Rollin making 59 and Steve Bainbridge 33. Airedale II chased that down for the loss of 8 wickets with Joe Milner hitting 62.

Sandy Lane II were 55 runs too good for Chatburn II at Green wood Park.

Finally Glusburn II suffered a 137 run reverse at the hands of Foulridge II at Park Field in a 35 over per side game. The Noyna side rattled up the day’s highest score, 227-9 with Zain Abbas making 78 as Bryan Hollis took 4-47. The homesters were brushed aside for just 90 with Alan Coney scoring 40 as Tamoor Munir claimed 4-35

There was no play in the games at Wilsden II, Cononley II Long Lee II or Cowling II.