Cricket: Craven League

Welch batted throughout the Cullingworth innings for 72 -- and hit the winning runs of the last ball of the match.

Oakworth were left regretting their decision to bat first as they crashed to 55-8 before Graham Rankin, 51, and Andy Dawson 38no put on 88 for the ninth wicket, which enabled them to reach 150.

At times Welch looked in danger of runing out of partners as Andy Betts (29) was the only other batsman to reach double figures in their two-wicket victory. Michael Scarborough finished with 5-45 off 18 overs.

The defeat cost Oakworth dearly as they dropped to third spot but will look to close the gap on the leaders when the two meet at Shires Lane.

Embsay moved three points clear after their victory over Sutton.

Tghe South Craven side won the toss and elected to bat and slumped to 50-6. Then Alan Johnson, 31 and Justin Holdsworth 36no helped them reach 125. Stephen Speak, bowling unchanged, finished with 8-45 from 21.3 overs.

The reply had a blistering start with 55 coming off nine overs, then wickets fell before Dave Robinson, with 30no, saw the leaders home for the loss of six wickets. Opener Simon Bailey top scored with 47. Two of the younger bowlers Ben Bolland and Robert Wilkinson shared the wickets to fall.

Barrowford move into second spot after they saw off Bradley by three wickets at Bull Holme. The visitors were dismissed for 144 with Neil Andrews scoring 45 as John Hargreaves took 3-35 and Ajmal Choudry 3-48. It was the latter whose 40no helped take his side to the points. He was assisted along the way by M Ikram who made 38, as James Heseltine spun his was to 4-68.

Bradley stay fourth, ahead of Thornton and Cowling on run-rate. The Booth Bridge Laners had a fine 43-run win over Haworth WE. The homesters made 172-9 led by Kev Pollard with 34 as Jason Bilbrough claimed 4-51. The Bronte side's reply halted at 129 with Mark Paxton taking 4-41.

Cowling evergreens, Keith Woodhead and Steve Mitchell, with 66 and 50 respectively played a big part in rattling up 216-6 at home to Long Lee. Then Martyn Dalby with 7-54 helped the Keighley side back to the hut for 113 despite 42no by Paul Swindlehurst.

Haworth slipped up badly at home to Foulridge, losing by 84 runs. John Lambert, 42 and 7-22, had a super game for the Noyna side. For the losers James Wilkinson made 49 and Jamie Rowell took 4-44.

The two sides at the top of Division Two Glusburn and Bingley Congs enjoyed splendid victories, and they too are separated only by run rate. Glusburn entertained neighbours Cononley and had to watch one of their old boys, Stephen Filkin, hit 81no, which along with 61no by Ian Thompson helped them to 203-4. Unfazed by this total, the home side roared back and scorched home by five wickets. Phil Shackleton made 63 and Russell Newton 57 despite the best efforts of Willie Naylor who took 3-31.

Congs were in more devastating form at home to Denholme. Tim Burnley 64 and Simon Bailey put on 112 runs in only 77 minutes for the second wicket. After losing Burnley, Bailey went majestically to 108no, which included 17 fours and a six, as his side made 218-5. The reply, which was held up for 13 minutes by rain, lasted just 16.3 overs, with the visitors being hustled out for a paltry 35. Only Richard Taylor, with 10, reached double figures, as Chris Hemsley claimed 6-12 and Tusif Arshad 4-23.

Chatburn enjoyed a fine six-wicket win at Wilsden who were restricted to 110-8 - after being 60-7. Andy Booth and Stuart Draycott taking three wickets each. The Ribblesdale side then had Draycott with 54 to thank for setting up their comfortable victory.

Pendle Forest were too strong for Ingrow St John's at Morton. First they made a moderate 140 and then shot the Saints out for 51, with S Halstead 5-22 and N Daniels 3-25 doing the damage with the ball.

Ingrow were dismissed for 108 at Haworth Road where Andy Gudgeon finished with 4-30 as Wayne Exley top scored with 39. The Shipley side cantered to a fine six-wicket win.

It appears that the team that takes over at the top of Division Three is destined to lose the following week. Sandy Lane and Crossflatts have been regularly exchanging top spot. This week leaders Sandy Lane went down by 23 runs at home to Thornton II. Mark Laycock, 5-37, did the damage for the winners.

Crossflatts move into top place after a solid six-wicket victory over visitors Barrowford II. The Bull Holme side made 165 with M Coton making 38 and No9 John Stanworth 37 as Mick Addy claimed 3-36. The homesters had an opening stand of 125 to build on and romped home in the 26th over. Mick Brooksbank scored 64 and Joe Gath 55 for the winners.

Embsay II had at least four batsmen make good starts, but none that could go on to make a big score at Gargrave. The side scored 158-7 with Mark Tucker making 35, Nas Hussein 33 and David Barrett 30no. The Skipton Road side got home by four wickets, with three balls to spare, thanks mainly to Paul Drinkall 41 and Ernie Moorhouse 34.

Carleton ran into Oakworth II's Paul McCullough in good form at Ramper Park. He took 5-4, which had the homesters out for 82. Neville Allan top scored with 30. Then skipper Lee Hollingsworth with 33no helped his side to the points by four wickets as Ian Wellock claimed 4-24.

Down at Riddlesden, Cowling II's Gemma Rishworth claimed 5-24, which pegged the home side back to 178-8 after they had threatened to run riot. M Kamal top scored with 56. Sadly for the South Craveners could only muster 53 in reply as M Irfan took 5-12.

Division Four leaders, Glusburn came unstuck up at Cullingworth - a first win for the bottom club. The free scoring visitors were knocked over for a modest 120 with Russell Hogg performing the hat-trick in his 5-42. He followed this with 30 to go with I Holmes' 30no as his side got home by six wickets.

Haworth Road smashed 242-9 at Ingrow with Adam Cook making a superb 102 as Shaun Narey took 5-62. The Keighley side replied with 148.

Skipton CI drop from second to third after another lacklustre display at home to Airedale. First they were restricted to 121-6 with S Walker making 43 as S Aslam took 5-31. Then they saw the Keighley take the spoils by seven wickets thanks to Chris Alvey who made 59no.

Another side to record their first victory was Bradley who entertained Wilsden and beat them 32 runs. They set a target of 196-9 led by Mark Bookmaster who made 73. Then Mick Hall took 5-24 to help dismiss the visitors for 164 with P Reynard scoring 57.

Long Lee's Matt Barnes made 53 as his side struggled to 114 at home to Bingley Congs with M Baines taking 4-31 and M Ricketts 3-13. In reply W Mahmood 53 and J Hill 49no took Congs to within a run of their target where the former was dismissed.

Victory by nine wickets was completed one run later.

Pendle Forest had a shock in store for Haworth at Fence; they dismissed them for 152 with veteran Paul Hakin taking 4-48 and R Ellis 3-25. Evergreen Dave Walsh top scored for the Bronte side with 32. In the successful five-wicket reply opener Phil Entwistle made 52 before E Snowden 37no and Ellis 36no completed the victory romp.

Leaders of Division Five Crossflatts II were in cracking form at Rose Cottage. They dismissed Keighley TC for a modest 117 with S Siddique taking 4-24, then sailed home by nine wickets with R Andrews making 47no.

That defeat for Keighley TC allowed Chatburn into second spot, although it was a close run thing at home to Sandy Lane. The Ribblesdale side made 178-7 with Geoff Lambert in the runs again, making 43 as S Sugden claimed 4-84 off 22 overs. The visitors' reply was always on track despite losing wickets at regular intervals. However there fell just four runs short with S Brown on 61no.

Sutton lost by seven wickets at home to Pendle Forest III. P Halstead 62no and Roland Lyons 54no being the stars for the winners.

Gargrave's topsy-turvy season continues. This week they travelled to Foulridge and won by 32 runs. The Noyna side were 'moonstruck' as S Moon claimed 6-51 and R Moon 3-19.

Finally Cononley and Riddlesden were involved in a high scoring tie. Kendall Gott 87 and Tim Holloway helped the homesters to 186-8 in their overs as Mick Hawkes took 3-49 and Joe McCool 3-62.

In the Keighley sides reply of 186-9, A Hussain made 62 and K Mahmood 42 as Ewan Scarr claimed 5-66. The eighth Riddlesden wicket fell at 182. Opener S Brown, who had retired hurt, came back to the wicket, but with the scores level his partner was run out off the last ball.