AFTER defeats for leading duo Cowling and Bingley Congs (who lost at home to Embsay), third-placed Haworth are just four points off the top of Division One of the Craven League.

Oakworth, three points and one place below Haworth in fourth, won the toss and opted to bat at West Lane, but were toppled for 104 in just 27 overs.

Both openers made ducks and the visitors were 57-8 before No.9 Jordan Powell wielded the long handle, making 40 off just 21 balls, to at least ensure that Oakworth reached three figures.

Damian Rowell took 4-17 for Haworth, before they lost James Roper for just one in their reply.

But a few small partnerships took the hosts to a five-wicket victory in the 29th over, despite 3-30 from Tom Fothergill.

Cowling were at Haworth Road Meths, who won the toss and made 211-8, with the hosts declaring with four balls left of their innings after an injury to Charles Briggs.

Ajmal Choudhry took 3-48 for the leaders.

Wasim Hussain (30) and the irrepressible Martyn Dalby (88) gave Cowling a great start but Meths’ first three bowlers exerted just enough control to give them a two-run victory, with Cowling finishing on 209-7.

Next-to-bottom Ingrow were on the wrong end of Barrowford’s blades in Lancashire, where the hosts scored 258-7, with Zafar Iqbal the best bowler with 3-66.

Ingrow, who could only field 10 men, were then dismissed for 112, with Adam Marks (25) and Tobias Hartley (23) the top scorers.

Sutton’s match against Foulridge was off due to Covid-19.

In Division Two, only runs-per-wicket average is keeping second-placed Denholme ahead of Bradley.

Toby Priestley is having a season to remember with the bat and scored his fourth century of the season in Denholme’s convincing win over Long Lee.

Priestley’s 102 came off just 96 balls and contained 13 fours and five sixes, and his knock dominated their 183-7.

Shahbaz Ahmed was Long Lee’s main strike bowler with 4-51, but the visitors then collapsed for 98, as Priestley took 4-21 and Richard Taylor 4-24.

Bradley handed leaders Gargrave only their second defeat of the season, restricting them to 99 after sending them in at Matthew Lane.

From being 94-5, Gargrave only added five more runs, with George Bell taking 4-24 and Toby Meynell 3-17.

Opener Edward Washington (30) and Toby Meynell (27 not out) gave Bradley such a good start that they could afford to lose three wickets for two runs and still win by three wickets.

Ten-man Airedale were hampered by injuries to fielders David Henson and Anthony Cox in their 114-run defeat against Eldwick & Gilstead at Riddlesden.

The twin villages made 222-8, and then neither Henson nor Cox could bat in the reply, which petered out at 108, an innings dominated by Mathew Cox’s 80 not out.

Silsden heaped more misery on Bingley Congs II, who made a great start via Lee Crowther (56) and wicket-keeper James Watson (23) but could still only make 123 as change bowlers Joe Sugden (5-19) and Lewis Middleton (3-12) cashed in.

The Cobbydalers then won by five wickets in the 29th over, with Bilal Mahmood 36 not out.

Cellar dwellers Cononley were the latest team to test Bradford & Bingley III’s powers of recovery,

Sent in at Sandy Lane, Cononley were castled for 99, which was an improvement considering that they were 56-7.

Harry Parker (30no) led the revival and it seemed as if his runs would be key when Bingley were 15-4 but Adam Swallow’s 57 not out was decisive as they won by three wickets in the 29th over.

Riddlesden are showing no signs of faltering at the head of Division Three, and made it 10 wins in a row.

The latest side to feel their force were Wilsden II, whose attack was bludgeoned for 295-5 at Shay Gate, with Wajahit Iqbal scoring 89 off 84 balls and Akeel Rashid 80 not out off 54 balls.

The hosts made 155 in reply, with Anish Pulavarti taking 4-23.

Glusburn ensured that Riddlesden are now leaders on runs-per-wicket average by defeating former front-runners Embsay II at Shires Lane.

A stand of 178 for the third wicket was the backbone of Glusburn’s 285, with Zaheer Abbas scoring 129 and Steve Brown 92.

Embsay II battled to 192-7, with under-16 Brett Parkin (3-38) the best of seven bowlers used.

Oakworth II, who included five juniors, made short work of Haworth II at Wide Lane.

The fourth-placed hosts scored 140-8, with the main contributors being Bilaal Khan (36) and skipper Michael Scarborough (24), as under-14 Tom Rowell again proved his worth with 4-27.

Then only opener George Ingham (16) made double figures as Haworth capitulated for 57, with James Lee bagging 5-19.

Denholme II conceded to Cowling II, while basement boys Sutton II at least fulfilled their fixture at Thornton-in-Craven.

Sutton’s decision to bat looked like a costly mistake when they were 6-6, but they were pulled round to 51 by David Chapman (23) and Philip Edwards (14).

The hosts then took only 11.1 overs to knock off the runs without loss.

Division Four leaders Long Lee’s clash with Hepworth & Idle III was Covid-affected, as was Bradley II v Gargrave II, while Ingrow II went down by 62 runs at home to Bingley Congs III.

Congs’ decision to sign wicket-keeper Chris Dennison on loan from Denholme was inspired as he scored 125 not out in their 203-5.

Muhammad Asadullah (57) and Mehraj Ali (27) shone for Ingrow, but they received too little support and they were dismissed for 141.

Under-17 Subhaan Ahmed, back from his loan spell at Airedale II, scored 64 against them for Oakworth III in their 126-8.

Saqib Javaid took 3-21 for Airedale, who were then restricted to 79-9, with Akram Javed making 22, as Sultan Khan bagged 3-24.

Raheem Hussain (4-62) did his best for Keighley III at Skipton CI II but it still wasn’t enough and the home side won by 115 runs.

CI made 178-8 after winning the toss, but Keighley’s third string made only 63, with Zahid Bashir (18) top-scoring.