COWLING are the new leaders of Division One of the Craven League.

While former front-runners Bingley Congs were losing for the second straight week, Cowling made it seven successive victories to take over from them at the top by two points.

Visitors Hepworth & Idle chose to bat at Keighley Road and made a creditable 186-6 after the early loss of Jamie Topham.

Skipper Chris Mitchell (37), keeper Luke Harland (22), Jonny Thompson (57) and Tom Gadd (35) were largely responsible for the Bradford club’s total, with Jalal Khan (3-37) dismissing Thompson and Gadd, having already removed Topham.

Captain Martyn Dalby (2-43) took care of Mitchell and Harland, and Dalby then anchored the reply by scoring 73.

Cowling were seen to their five-wicket win by Zahid Hussain (29 not out) in the 36th over, with Thompson returning 3-34.

Haworth Road Meths set a similar target at home to Congs after also winning the toss.

Again they lost a man early – this time Charlie Hainsworth – but two half-century partnerships put them back on track in their 184-7.

Opener Deepal Dissanayake (72), who hit 12 fours and a six, put on 58 for the second wicket with Ian Robson (31) and 69 for the third with Fahim Khan (48), who cracked four fours and four sixes.

Keeper George Hicks (36) and Simon Bailey (27) got the visitors off to a good start in Congs’ reply, but only Mohammad Adil (22) was able to offer support after that and the innings ended at 146.

Change bowlers Natinder Gata-Aura (5-39) and the economical Mansha Khan (1-16 off 10 overs) made the difference for Meths, who are now seven points above the second relegation place.

The most exciting match of the day was at Oakworth, who had Wilsden as opponents.

The home side chose to field, and it seemed the right call as Wilsden were 48-7 before their innings was transformed.

The top seven only totalled 38 between them, half of which came from opener Ben Mitchell, but Wilsden found a couple of heroes in keeper Gareth Wright (30) and Hasnat Bukhari (47), who added 62 for the eighth wicket as they ended on 139.

James Powell (3-20), James Lee (2-21) and Tom Fothergill (2-39) combined to cause Wilsden’s early alarms, and Oakworth looked winners at 102-5.

It seemed even more certain that the home side would take the spoils when they were 137-8, needing just three more to win, but they lost by one run, with Jake Keslinke stranded on 20 not out.

Khawar Bukhari (3-40), skipper Chris Longley (4-45) and Ben Mitchell (2-22) helped to give Wilsden the smallest of edges.