TOBY Priestley is putting in an early claim to be the batsman of the season alongside Bingley Congs’ George Hicks in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League Division One.

The 25-year-old Denholme all-rounder made an unbeaten 139 in their easy victory at home to Cowling.

It was his third century of the campaign, following his 173 in the league against Ingrow and his 128 against Hepworth & Idle in the Wynn Cup, and he is already almost halfway to 1,000 league runs.

Priestley hit 19 fours and six sixes in his 89-ball knock against Cowling, carrying Denholme to a seven-wicket victory in the 27th over.

Cowling, third last year but now ninth, won the toss and batted, making 186 thanks to Wasim Hussain (76), who hit 10 fours and two sixes, and Laiq Ur Rehman (44), who put on 88 for the fifth wicket.

Phil Poole Jnr took 3-28 and Adrian Shires 4-47 before Priestley’s fireworks, adding 119 unbroken with Shires (28no).

Denholme, who have 79 points, are second in the table behind Congs, who gained revenge over Haworth, who won the title last year by beating them on the last day of the season.

Haworth chose to have first knock at Beckfoot Lane, but were castled for 104, Jacob Stephens top-scoring with 23.

Ollie Bishop then did well to take 4-24 as Congs won by five wickets in the 27th over.

Third-placed Oakworth only trail Denholme on net run-rate, but had some anxious moments before defeating Haworth Road Meths by three wickets with three overs to spare.

Bradley Powell took 3-32 in Meths’ 143-9, and Oakworth were then indebted to 16-year-old Charlie Raby (40) and Jack Davison (45).

Ingrow, 10th on 38 points, did not threaten to defeat Hepworth & Idle, who racked up 238-7 at Westfield Lane, with Shahid Ajmal taking 3-31.

The visitors were then dismissed for 101, despite openers Junaid Majid (25) and Atif Malik (22), who put on 49.

Sutton, a point behind Meths at the bottom, did not win but fared better against Barrowford, making 154 after winning the toss.

Sam Solley starred for the hosts with a 101-ball 85 that contained 10 fours, adding 56 for the third wicket with Jack Whitaker (25).

Dave Snowden then took 2-37 and Tony Walton 2-26 in Barrowford’s 157-7.

Keighley News: Sutton's Sam Solley, right, fired a century for his side in their win over BarrowfordSutton's Sam Solley, right, fired a century for his side in their win over Barrowford

Riddlesden continue to pile up the runs and the points at the head of Division Two, with Skipton CI being their latest victims.

Riddlesden, who are now 15 points ahead of Eldwick & Gilstead, won the toss at Sandylands and made 219-7, with Mohammad Shahnawaz making, what was for him, a reserved 92 off 131 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six.

He was supported by Aftab Khan (43) and Mohammed Arshad (29no), with Khan helping him add 70 for the third wicket and Arshad 60 for the seventh.

CI were then rolled over for 113, Mohammed Zulfiqar taking 4-36, Khan 3-6 and Arfan Mahmood 2-32.

Silsden were in an equally carefree mood at Glusburn, scoring 253-5 after being sent in.

Ben Sugden batted through the innings for 117, smacking 19 fours and two sixes, and adding 111 for the third wicket with skipper Jack Roberts (55), who himself hit seven fours and a six, and 50 for the fifth with Tom Berry (23).

Tanveer Munir made 68 for Glusburn, a knock that contained seven fours and five sixes, but needed more support than Matt Lloyd (20), Irfan Khaliq (30) and Sam Britten (20no) provided as they were dismissed for 160, with Joshua Waind taking 4-46 and Roberts 3-7.

Glusburn drop a place to third with that defeat, while Bradley are fourth after a thrilling one-wicket victory over Bingley Congs II.

Congs won the toss and made 183, with Toby Meynell (3-23) and Vince Grant (3-54) doing the best with the ball.

Bradley looked out of it at 128-8 and even 168-9 but No 10 Grant (31no) and last man Bilal Bashir (6no) put on 17 unbroken for the last wicket after keeper Edward Washington (37), captain Dave Hunt (67 and No 9 Caleb Lister (22) also helped them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Long Lee fell by 48 runs at Foulridge, who made 132, Jamil Muhammad taking 3-13, Ahsan Rizwan 2-26, Daniel Kernan 2-45 and Shahbaz Ahmed 2-18.

Rizwan (30) was then the only defiant innings for the visitors, who were dismissed for 84.

Airedale, who have dropped to next to bottom, went down by four wickets at Eldwick & Gilstead in a tense contest.

Sent in, Airedale made 138-9, with only skipper Mathew Cox (20) and Chris Gill (22) reaching 20, E&G then winning with eight balls to spare.

In Division Three, Cononley were in no mood to waste time at home to Skipton CI II, who, sent in, were dismissed for 128, Herbie Starkey taking 5-34 and Tom Feather 3-25.

Starkey then completed a fine match by scoring 62 not out in 59 balls, including four fours and five sixes.

Nathan Parker (53no off just 22 balls, including 10 fours and a six) then also sped Cononley home in 18 overs, with Scott Brook (10) having added 77 for the first wicket with Starkey.

Oakworth II, granted a walkover by Denholme II, are up to fourth, while Cowling II have climbed to seventh after enjoying themselves against Wilsden II.

Ajmal Choudhry (82, including 11 fours), Martyn Dalby (49) and Yasser Chatta (47), who both hit seven fours and a six, weighed in during Cowling’s 223-7 before Junaid Gullnawaz (6-23) helped to dismiss the visitors for 55.

Next-to-bottom Long Lee II went down by three wickets at home to Hepworth & Idle II after being sent in.

The men from Golden View made 155, thanks to Akram Javed (68), who hit 11 fours and two sixes, and Phil Atkinson (45), but the Westfield Laners replied with 157-7.

Airedale II head Division Four after a 36-run home victory over Hepworth & Idle III.

Keeper Trevor Cox (60), Tim Crossley (24) and James Haley (26) contributed to the hosts’ 134-9 after they chose to bat, and Asad Moghul (4-23), Calum Davies (3-38) and Mohammed Ali Raja (3-6) then proved a formidable trio with the ball as the visitors were toppled for 98.

Matty Lee (3-21 and 43) could not prevent Oakworth III from falling to defeat at home to Bingley Congs III.

Sultan Khan (2-20) was also in the wickets in Congs’ 149-7 but Oakworth were then bowled out for 96, with Dawud Shahzad (10) the only other man in double figures.

Keighley III gained a walkover against Glusburn II.