Cricket: Craven League round-up

They dismissed the home side for 109 with Richard Powell scoring 31 as Michael Scarborough 4-22 and Jamie Pennington 3-15 did most of the damage. The Cure Hill side the romped to a nine-wicket victory with John Crossley making 53no and Steve Hartley 33no for the winners.

Long Lee moved into third place after a nailbiting one wicket win over Cowling. The South Craveners batted first and made 142 with Steve Mitchell scoring 44. Paul Swindlehurst 4-33 and Chris Taylor 3-36 were the most successful bowlers. The Keighley side then scraped home, in the last over, thanks mainly to a fine knock by Aussie Mick Iles who finished with 66no. Phil Walton chipped in with 45 as Martin Rishton claimed 4-22.

Thornton were on hot form as the sun shone, plundering Embsay's attack for 181 runs while the league leaders could only claim three wickets. Adam Zampatti top scored with 56 backed up by Tim Gates 51no and Richard Craddock 34. However the homeside's attack faired little better, despite having the Shires Laners 63-3 at one time.

Bob Bateman 75 and David Robinson 46no took them to within one run of their targetand victory was achieved in the 37th over.

Cullingworth entertained Barrowford and beat them by six wickets.

Bradley got a welcome two points at Skipton CI. They batted first and scored 169-7 with A Smithson making 49no. In reply the Sandylands side were knocked over for 141 with James Heseltine spinning his way to 6-40.

Denholme finally opened their win account at the expense of Haworth WE. The Bronte side made a creditable 180-8, with Jason Bilbrough scoring 57 and Andy Parker 30 as Rob Taylor claimed 3-39. The home side made a bright start with 64 for the first wicket where Rob Taylor was bowled for 41. They struggled to 99-4 at which point David Wear perished for 39. Gareth Marshall was joined by Stuart Cummings and the pair took their side to victory in the 39th over. Marshall, playing his first senior game after injury, made 46no and Cummings 37no.

Division Two leaders Sutton were restricted to 140 at Jimmy Nelson's. Paul Williams top scored with 42 as Tony Stafford claimed 5-67. The Red Rose side were dismissed for 108 with Stafford making 34. Darren Wild 5-38 and Justin Holdsworth 4-24 were the demon bowlers.

Second placed Ingrow travelled to Foulridge and came away empty handed. They could only manage 143 with Adrian Parker scoring 58 as Chris Booker-Carey 4-33, David Wallbank 3-35 and Tom Stephenson 3-29 doing the damage. John Lickess top scored with 35no as the Noyna side reached their target, for the loss of six wickets, in the 43rd over.

Glusburn's bowlers and fielders set hearts racing as they nearly threw away a winning position when they entertained Gargrave. The home side had slumped to 60-5 before skipper Ian Beattie with 35 and Mark Pickles 21 helped take the total to 174-9. Chris Flood bowled through to finish with 5-54. In the reply Dave Cox 33 had tried to push the score along with M Clayton 29 and D Mountain 26. It was when Flood came to the wicket that things changed. He hit 32no which took his side to within seven runs of victory, when the overs ran out.

Cononley join Glusburn in second spot after a good win over Chatburn at the Colthurst Ground. The homesters went first and scored 177 with Charles Calvert 46 and Willie Naylor 34 as I Ali took 4-40. Steve Filkin 4-36 and Matthew Town 3-58 helped the Ribblesdale side back to the hut 30 short of their target. Andrew Booth made 34 for the losers.

Airedale plundered a massive 316-3 at Ramper Park. Chris Alvey 98 and I Zaman, who finished on a superb 128no, putting on 191 for the first wicket. The Carleton side were demoralized and slumped to 119 all out.

Next to bottom Ingrow St John's registered a morale boosting win over Pendle Forest at Street Lane. The Fence side scored 160 with Andrew Townsend reaching 47. The Saints cantered home for the loss of six wickets with Matthew Walker making 70

Third Division leaders Oakworth were in fine form again as they dispatched Haworth by 96 runs. R Hollingsworth 46, Lee Hollingsworth 37 and Jason Lockley 33 had seen the Cure Hill side to 200 in their innings. Chris White then took 5-46 as the Bronte side were dismissed for 104.

Second placed Embsay were thrashed by eight wickets, at home to Thornton. The home side were dismissed for a disappointing 104, after putting on 39 for the first wicket. Mark Tucker was top scorer with 32 as Malc Holt took 5-33 off 17.3 overs and Mark Laycock 3-37. The Booth Bridge Lane side built on a useful opening partnership to waltz to a fine eight-wicket win, Johnny Wilman finishing on 65no.

Barrowford jump back into second spot after seeing off Cullingworth by 107 runs at Bull Holme

Cowling and Long Lee, just like their senior senior sides, figured in a close finish at Keighley Road. The Keighley side batted first and posted 151 with Jan Haider making 49 as Mark Batty claimed 6-38. The homesters fell five runs short with Batty making 45 and S Ahmed taking 4-35.

Skipton CI continue their climb up the table after seeing off Airedale on their own midden. CI batted first and made 205. The Keighley side could only reach 142-9 in reply.

Pendle Forest dragged themselves out of the bottom two and pushed Ingrow St John's down, after beating them by 35 runs in a high scoring game. Two seasoned campaigners Phil Entwistle, 81, and Mike Gowling 77, took the Fence side to 211-8. John Jickels top scored with 51 as the Saints replied with 176. Pete Jones and E Snowden took four wickets each.

Bradley's unbeaten run came crashing to a halt in Division Four when they surprisingly lost at home to Long Lee III, who completed a rare hat-trick of wins on the same day for the club. The Keighley side went first and made a modest 133 with N Butterfield top scoring with 32 as Ashley Walmsley 4-47 and Matt Buckmaster 4-24 did the damage with the ball. Butterfield then took 3-20 and Kelvin Doane 2-12 as the leaders slumped to 99 all out.

Denholme took over top spot after they travelled to Keighley TC and came away with a six-wicket win.

Glusburn go third after winning by four wickets at Gargrave.

Chatburn lost a close encounter yet again when they entertained Cononley. The South Craven side made 155 with Chris Simmons getting 42no and S Akrigg 34 as Rod Booth took 4-35. The Ribblesdale side fell six short of their target despite 43 from Booth. A Starkey 5-46 and T Holloway 4-21 did the damage.

Sutton to 100 by Pendle Forest III. David Clark top scored with 44 as S Halstead took 5-53 and Roland Lyons 5-29. The Fence side then crashed to 86 all out with Ben Airey 6-46 and Andrew Elrick 4-32 causing havoc.

Foulridge slumped to their third defeat of the season on their travels to Ingrow. The Noyna side made 149. The Keighley side passed that for the loss of seven wickets