DENHOLME Clough extended their lead at the top of Halifax League Division Two after beating nearest rivals Cullingworth by 67 runs.

Hosts Clough were bowled out for 159 as Mohammed Zhabair Yousaf top-scored with 42, Phil Poole (5-73) and Ben Burkill (5-75) doing the damage.

Their target proved enough as Cullingworth could only make 92 in reply. Only Graham Rankin (28no) offered much resistance as Waqas Ali (4-31) and Israh Akram (4-40) helped put Denholme 16 points clear.

Oxenhope lost their top-of-the-table clash against Queensbury by 114 runs as the visitors took over at the Division One summit.

Thanks to other results going their way, the Worth Valley side are still 15 points ahead of third-placed Great Horton Park Chapel.

After losing two early wickets, Queensbury batted steadily with the middle order all making valuable contributions to help move their score to 230-8 after 45 overs.

Azhar Sharif top-scored with 60 as Scott Osborne weighed in with 52, Scott Mallinson (4-51) and Duncan Tetley (3-46) being Oxenhope's chief wicket-takers.

In reply, the home side were unable to come to terms with the two Queensbury spinners, Gurdev Singh (5-69) and Amjad Ali (5-25), who dismissed the home team for 116. The only real contributions came from Tom Mawer (31) and Joe Ousey (36).

A very young Oxenhope II, featuring six under-15s, proved no match for second-placed Bridgeholme, losing by 186 runs.

But it was a good week for Denholme Clough II as they beat Division Two leaders Outlane II. Clough made 188 (Yasser Hussain 80) before Aamir Riaz (6-53) helped reduce the hosts to 142 all out.