In the ENCO Halifax League Second Division, Bridgeholme, sent in by hosts Cullingworth, were in all sorts of trouble as they lost their first four wickets for five runs, three of the batters recording ducks.

Matters hardly improved as the score ‘progressed’ to 12-5 and 18-6. Mohammed Basharat (22) and Yasir Mahmood (20) then swung the willow to advance the total to 75 as Phil Poole Jnr took 4-20.

The home team required only 79 balls to score a winning 78-1 with Johnny Barton (48no) just missing out on a half-century as the target was reached.

At Stones, the going was similarly tough as visitors Queensbury could only reach 123-9, having been asked to bat.

Several batters stayed at the crease for varying times but none could reach 30, with the figures of Phil Robbins illustrating the batting problems, as he took 5-23 from 14 overs.

Stones’ reply ran into even more difficulties with the scoreboard soon showing a desperate 23-6 in less than 10 overs.

William Thickett, batting at No.8, was the first to reach a double-figure score, followed by the top score from Tim Hallewell, batting at No.11, who made a belligerent 30 in 17 balls.

Nearly all the mayhem had been caused by Joshua Baines, who claimed 8-44 as Stones were dismissed for 97.

Apart from opener Anees Rawat (47), most of Mount’s batters also found things difficult on their visit to Oakworth, and were back in the pavilion for 134, with Tom Fothergill (5-32) and Jack Davison (4-28) the in-form home bowlers.

Keighley News: Jack Davison's four wickets were not enough as Oakworth fell apart in their reply.Jack Davison's four wickets were not enough as Oakworth fell apart in their reply. (Image: Newsquest.)

At 78-3, the home team appeared to be on course for victory, but lost their last seven wickets for 49 as Mount scraped home by seven runs, skipper Ismail Mayat being the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-36.

Premier Division title hopefuls Illingworth St Mary’s were indebted to Isaac Thompson (66) and Matthew Smith (63) in their home fixture against Oxenhope, putting on 120 for the third wicket in a total of 182, with five bowlers bagging wickets.

The visitors nearly earned a surprise victory, but ran out of time when only 11 runs short of their target.

Harris Rowlett made a valiant 76 not out from 114 balls, assisted by Robbie Carling (23no) as they took the score from 137-7 to 172-7.

But if there was no shock at Illingworth in the end, there certainly was one elsewhere in the top flight, as SBCI inflicted a first Halifax League defeat on Thornton for 19 months.

The defending champions had a Premier Division match at The Astleys, where Joshua Hutchinson (55) and Ross Parr (41) were Thornton’s main batting duo in their 173, as Chettiyam Kasndy took 5-37 for SBCI.

Three players then shone with the willow after tea - Tom Wood (63), skipper Simon Wood (49no) and Gnanasambandham Arjuna (38), as Thornton tried six bowlers in an attempt to keep their unbeaten record intact, the best of which were Parr (2-33) and Grant Soames (2-41).

It was not to be, however, as SBCI won by three wickets with 5.1 overs to spare.

Shelf Northowram Hedge Top won the toss at Sowerby Bridge and opted to bowl on a pitch where the groundstaff had, like several others, struggled in their preparation.

The hosts’ 148 therefore looked a par performance, with Aber Saghir (47) and John Brown (43) scoring the bulk of the runs, Gurdev Singh having outstanding figures of 5-26.

However, Hedge Top then took the game to the Bridge, and particularly their former player Chris Metcalf, who scored 59 runs in 43 balls to set the basis for a seven-wicket win.

In the First Division, promotion favourites Clayton had Greetland in disarray as the visitors lost eight wickets for 11 in collapsing from 17-0 to 28-8, four of them recording ducks.

There was a minor rally as Shakeel Mahmood scored 22 not out, but the honours belonged to Matthew Roe (5-23) and Mitesh Mistry (5-24) as Greetland could only record 62 in under 18 overs.

The home team had little difficulty in scoring 65-0 to take maximum points.

At The Trinity Oval, Great Horton Park Chapel inserted Low Moor Holy Trinity and restricted the home team to 120.

Batting proved more than difficult, best illustrated by opener and top scorer Oliver Brook taking 108 balls in making 36 as Horton employed five bowlers, all of them being economical.

In reply, despite losing both their openers cheaply, Horton dealt with the conditions much better, in particular Harris Majid (46) and skipper Adam Beasley (25), and the winning runs came in the 25th over at 121-5.

Jackroyd Lane provided the lowest score of the day as visitors Mytholmroyd were skittled for 30 by Upper Hopton.

Skipper Jack Earle scored 18 of them, the next highest batter making five as Matthew Broadbent (5-12) and Jack Stephenson (5-16) demolished the Royd.

Hopton required only 25 balls to collect maximum points at 31-0, the match lasting just 23 overs.