CONONLEY are still four points clear at the top of Craven League Division Three after a stunning victory at Denholme II.

They plundered 254-6 in 34.3 overs before declaring. Billy Pinder made 66, Herbie Starkey 58 and Andy Starkey 53. The Bradford Road side were then knocked over for just 78 of which Chris Dennison made 39 as Joel Grainger claimed 4-4.

Long Lee are second on run rate after they too had an emphatic win over Riddlesden II at Golden View.

Shahbaz Ahmed 77 (including eight sixes) and Richard Ayrton 57 put on 97 for the sixth wicket as the home side amassed 233-8. The Grange Road side were then dismissed for 89 with Dave Collins, Jamie Robinson and Ian Roberts taking three wickets each.

Third-placed Sandy Lane figured in a low-scoring game against Eldwick & Gilstead at Greenwood Park. The home side were restricted to 96 with Jordan Bayliss taking 5-35. The visitors slumped to 67 with Ashfaq Ali taking 5-25 and Shahbaz Ahmed 3-18.

There was another strange finish at Skipton CI. The Sandylands side made 128-7 in 37.5 overs before declaring as Mick Addy took 4-28 for nine-man Crossflatts II. The visitors then spent 41 overs reaching 31-7 where the match was abandoned. Paul Smith had the fantastic figures of 5-6 off 15 overs.

Lee Barrett scored a super 101no as Gargrave made 180-3 declared. Visitors Bingley Congs II then 'rushed' to 40 in 39 overs!

In Division 4A, second-placed Foulridge II could only muster seven men and they were dismissed for 17 in 12.1 overs. Leaders and visitors Sandy Lane II then struggled to get over the line, losing seven wickets in 7.2 overs. Veteran Ray Tunnacliffe finished with 5-8.

Sutton II’s Tony Walton 75 and Stuart Tillotson 48 put on 108 for the first wicket as they made 169-4 against Chatburn II at Royd Hill. Then Carl Jopson took 5-18 as the Ribble Valley side tumbled to 61 all out.

Nine-man Oakworth III switched their match to Airedale II and were shot out for 38, with Mohammed Qadeer Hanif taking 4-4 and Stuart McLennan 3-12. The Bradford Road side galloped home by nine wickets in 8.2 overs.

Haworth received three points when Glusburn II had to concede their game.

Division 4B leaders Cowling II travelled to Long Lee II and won by nine wickets. The Golden View side were indebted to Frazer Atkinson (34) and No 11 Neil Kennedy (20no) for most of their 87 all out as Amjid Shafait took 4-24. In the successful reply evergreen John Cleaver scored 42no and Shafait 29no.

Skipton CI II beat Bradley II at Matthew Lane. Danny Hunt and Callum Patrick both scored 37 as the home side reached 132 with Dean Pompey taking 4-31. Then the vastly-experienced pair of Mel Mason (63no) and Jon Sharpe (43no) took the Sandylands side to an eight-wicket victory.

Gargrave II lost by two wickets at Ingrow II. The Skipton Road side were dismissed for 103. The Hainworth side replied with 104-8 in which veteran Ray Jones took 6-42.

Cononley II skipper Richard Mansell carried his bat for a magnificent 120no (19 fours, 2 sixes) as his side made 200-5 before declaring after 40 overs. Bingley Congs III were never in the hunt and were dismissed for 63 with Peter Hatton taking 6-27 and Matt Hogg 4-17.