HAWORTH Road Meths, who beat Bingley Congs earlier this month, have now defeated Congs’ title rivals Cowling to make it a very productive month for the Shipley-based club.

Meths, looking up the table from their ninth-placed position, won the toss and batted at Baildon Bottom and made 211-8, declaring with four balls left of their innings due to an injury to Charles Briggs.

Middle-order batsman Fahim Khan led the way with 82 and No 7 Rehan Ahmed made 27 to add to the efforts of top three Naseeb Ali, Charlie Hainsworth (both 23) and Wajid Mahmood (33).

Leaders Cowling made an even better start via Wasim Hussain (30) and Martyn Dalby (88), but despite 25 from Laiq Ur Rehman and 22 from Zahid Hussain, the discipline of leading Meths bowlers Muhammad Ansar (2-39), Ahmed (4-43) and Mohammed Ibrahim (2-48) was just enough to give them the win, with Cowling ending up two runs short on 209-7.

Bingley Congs, two points adrift of Cowling in second place, couldn’t profit from the leaders’ slip up however as they were easily manhandled by Embsay at Beckfoot Lane.

Congs won the toss but could only score a below-par 159, wicket-keeper George Hicks continuing his fine season with 68 off 50 balls, including 13 fours and a six.

He an dominated an opening stand of 86 with Chris Dibb (12), but only skipper Neil Copping contributed much after that with 31 as Congs lost wickets in clusters, going from 86-0 to 92-4, 123-4 to 138-7 and 151-7 to 159 all out.

Embsay then breezed to an eight-wicket victory against the under-strength hosts in the 23rd over.

Hepworth & Idle had to call off their two matches due to Covid 19 – in Division One against Wilsden and Division Four against Long Lee II, with the Westfield Laners’ second team luckily having a free week.

In Division Two, Bradford & Bingley III again showed their powers of recovery – this time at home to bottom club Cononley.

The latter did well to reach 99, having been 38-5 and 56-7, as Shahbaz Ahmed took 4-30 and Farhan Khalid 3-19.

However, Bingley were 15-4 before being rescued by skipper Adam Swallow, whose 57 not out included 11 fours and a six and took them to a three-wicket victory, adding 44 for the fifth wicket with Ahmed (12).

Eldwick & Gilstead had a comprehensive home win over Airedale at Riddlesden, with the visitors being unfortunate to lose David Henson and Anthony Cox to injuries while fielding.

The twin villages made 222-8, with Ajeet Singh scoring an outstanding 116, aided by Steve Dunn (27) and Pat Carberry (20).

Airedale, who only hade 10 men to start with, could not bat either Dunn or Cox and finished on 108, with Mathew Cox defiant on 80 not out as Arnie Raistrick took 4-28.

Relegation-threatened Bingley Congs II again made a good start, via Lee Crowther (56) and wicket-keeper James Watson (23), but little came after them and they were all out for 123 after being put in at Silsden.

The Cobbydalers knocked off the runs for the loss of five wickets in the 29th over to leave Congs effectively seven points from safety due to their lack of wins and inferior runs-per-wicket average.

In Division Three, Wilsden II were the latest team to feel the force of Riddlesden’s gung-ho batting as they conceded 295-5 at Shay Gate.

Wilsden then made 155 in reply, with Tanveer Hussain adding 98 for the fifth wicket with Mudassar Riaz (20).

Fifth-placed Bingley Congs III are having a solid season in Division Four and made an inspired loan signing for their clash at promotion-chasing Ingrow II.

Denholme loanee Chris Dennison scored 125 not out, including 17 fours and three sixes, and was supported by James Farrell (33) and Paul Sanson (26) in their 203-5.

Ingrow were then dismissed for 141, with leg-spinner Jordan Robinson taking a career-best 5-31 and Zac Wheatley – another loanee from Denholme – 2-27.