A WEEK after their opening-day fixtures were rescheduled for later in the season, the Mewies Solicitors Craven League limped into action, with just over half of the matches being abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Division One was badly hit, with play possible in only one of the six matches.

That was at Crossflatts, where Barrowford stormed to a seven-wicket victory to leave the home side still on minus nine points.

The Ryshworth Park side batted first and were dismissed for 85, with former Ingrow St John’s skipper Wasim Hussain top-scoring with 24 as Adnan Khalid claimed 5-20 and Karum Khan 3-21.

Ashir Imdad (48no) led the Bull Holme side to the spoils.

In Division Two, last season’s champions Haworth Road II slumped to a seven-wicket defeat at home to Eldwick & Gilstead.

The hosts were dismissed for 79, with Adam Cook and Safraz Mahmood both making 20 as Jack Dixon claimed 4-8 and Andy Stephenson 3-17.

Tom Conneely (41) helped to visitors to the winning post.

At Cononley, Cowling’s skipper Martyn Dalby clattered 10 sixes and five fours in a belligerent 87.

With Charlie Hassan and 18-year-old Aussie recruit William Bowden scoring 44 and 37 respectively, the innings closed on 237 as Cameron Knowles bowled well to finish with 4-38 off his 12 overs and Scott Brook chipped in with 3-56.

For the home side, Charles Calvert made 50 and Tom Feather 30no as Dalby took 3-24 and Aftab Khan 3-9.

At Gargrave, Long Lee made 146, thanks mainly to Richard Ayrton (47) and Shabaz Ahmed (30) as Tom Storr (3-17) was the best bowler.

The Skipton Road side went down by 22 runs, however, with John Beckwith (30) top-scoring as Ahmed (4-22) and veteran Ian Roberts (3-19) were the best bowlers.

Only the Riddlesden v Haworth II game failed to start in Division Three, where Michael Scarborough has dropped down to captain Oakworth's second team this year and quickly showed his calibre as he hit nine sixes and three fours in a knock of 90 which helped his side to 238-6.

Then a couple of his young guns, Ellis Marshall (3-7) and Uwais Ali Khan (3-11), helped by the experienced Jack Davison (3-35), had home side Hepworth & Idle II back in the hut for 113 of which Garfield Allen made 39.

Ian Henderson (80) and Martin Chisnall (40) put on 97 for the second wicket for Skipton CI at Sandylands as they posted 200-5, Stephen Wood chipping in with 36.

Visitors Bradley could only muster 72 in reply as Sam Smith (6-18) and Sefal Allam (4-47) did all the damage.

Newly-promoted Sutton II were shot out for a paltry 23 at Bingley Congs II.

Mark Hughes top scored with 10 as Michael Baines (3-4), Josh Zenner (3-5) and Steve Broughton (3-8) took the bowling honours. In reply, the Beckfoot Lane side romped home by ten wickets.

Ten-man Thornton staggered to 111 at home to Crossflatts II, Dan Oldfield making 22 as the wickets were shared.

The Ryshworth Park side then crumpled to 87 all out, despite Bryan Freimanis scoring as Stephen Laycock took 5-15 and Oldfield 4-22.

At Bull Holme, Embsay totalled 142-5, with Dominic Kay hitting 89 not out.

Then, in a dream start for his new club, former Bradley man Casper Bean had 3-0 at the end of the first over, including a hat trick.

He finished with 4-13 to go with Kay’s 4-24 as the Barrowford innings closed on 94.

Glusburn II got their season off to a good start in Division Four as they accounted for ten-man Skipton CI II by three wickets.

David Suter Jr (54) helped the visitors post 115 as Azhar Iqbal took 4-19 and Mohammed Khan 3-35.

Paul McCullough (40no) and Brett Parkin (20no) rescued the Park Field side from 63-7 with an unbroken stand of 59 for the eighth wicket.

Division 4B champions Silsden were in their pomp at Bradley II.

They restricted the Matthew Lane side to 63 and lost three wickets in reaching their target.

Meanwhile, Cononley II were unable to raise a side against Chatburn II.

* During the close season, Barrowford lost three of the older members – Jack Handford, Roy Balmforth and former child welfare officer Barry Cook.

A minute’s silence was observed before the games at Crossflatts and Barrowford.