Batters came to the fore as several teams scored over 200 on a day made for run-getting.
Oakworth share second spot in the league after an impressive win at Cowling. A solid batting performance, lead by Michael Scarborough with 77, helped the Cure Hill side to 232-8 with Steve Mitchell taking 3-50 and Graham Rishton 3-56.
The homesters struggled against some very tidy bowling and were dismissed for 89. Top scorer was Keith Woodhead with 24 as Graham Rankin finished with 5-29 and Andy Dawson 3-13.
At Shires Lane Duncan Ward scored his second century of the season, 109no as the leaders Embsay rattled up 205-5. Duncan Bullough chipped in with 37. Visitors Long Lee were never in the hunt and crashed to 80 all out. It could have been worse but for a timely knock of 44 by Richard Ayrton, which lifted the side from 40-6, as Stephen Speak finished with 5-33 and John Metcalfe 2-27.
Thornton share second spot after a nine-wicket win at Haworth. The Bronte side were decimated by their 'annual Dublin trip' and struggled to 78 all out. Richard Craddock 5-27 and Mark Paxton 4-45 doing the damage. The Booth Bridge Laners romped past that total with Adam Zampatti making 45no.
Barrowford just got the better of Bradley at Bull Holme. The Red Rose side went first and posted 173. Opener Liam Roberts leading the way with 36 as Neil Robinson claimed 5-52. The white rose was flourishing quite well at 112-3 but then wickets were loss regularly and they slumped to 158-9 at the close. Alistair Harrison made 36 as Ajmal Choudry finished with 5-31.
Second Division leaders Sutton amassed 198-9 in their overs with Paul Hardaker showing the way 81. In reply visitors Foulridge fell 61 runs short as Justin Holdsworth claimed 5-57 and Darren Wild 4-55
Joint second, Ingrow were too strong for visitors Gargrave, winning by 169 runs. The Keighley side plundered 267-4 in the overs, as Mohammed Hanif made 63 and Adrian Parker 55. Gargrave reached 98 in reply with Ian Roberts taking 4-17.
Glusburn are level with Ingrow after seeing off Jimmy Nelson's. The South Craven side made 182-9 thanks mainly to Phil Taylor 42 and Alan Thornley 35. Mark Pickles with 28no figured in a last wicket partnership of 33. Dave Greenwood finished with 5-79 off 23 overs. Jimmy's never got to grips with the situation and were brushed aside for just 70. Simon Hagerty doing most of the damage with 6-25 assisted by Pickles and Kevin Hird, who took two wickets each.
Also level with Ingrow and Glusburn are Cononley, who appear to be turning the corner after some team strengthening. They entertained Ingrow St John's and sneaked home by two runs. The homeside were indebted to Craig Watts who made 41 of 138 as W Hussain took 7-44. Matthew Walker made 30 as the Saints fell agonisingly short
Pendle Forest seem to have got to grips with life in the division and dispatched plucky Carleton at Fence. The visitors scored a creditable 168 with John Brewin top scoring with 38 as Nick Daniels took 4-30. The homesters knock off the runs for the loss of five wickets with Gareth Storey making 66 and Steve Ellis 31.
Ingrow were too strong for visitors Gargrave, winning by 169 runs. The Keighley side plundered 267-4 as M Hanif made 63 and Andy Parker 55. Gargrave reached 98 in reply with I Roberts finishing with 4-17
Airedale must have felt reasonably comfortable with their total of 183, but it was not to be enough as visitors Chatburn swept to a fine four wicket win. Matthew Cox 59 and Mark Watkin 47 were the stars for the losers, with I Ali 55 and 5-51, and S Tomlinson 54 doing the business for the winners.
Division Three leaders, Oakworth were in belligerent mood against Cowling at Cure Hill. The home side blasted a massive 286-7 in their overs. Jason Lockley hit ten sixes and nine fours in his innings of 130, which was backed up by Lee Hollingsworth with 60 and Paul McCullough 52no. The dispirited visitors could only muster 80 in reply with 16-year-old Richard Ellis taking 3-20
In a high scoring game Thornton hung on to beat Haworth by 15 runs. The homesters rattled up 207-5 with Jeff Tipler making 67, skipper John Roughton 50, and Andy Bowker 34no. The Bronte side made a real fight of it led by Ross Balderstone 74 and Colin Williamson 41. However they were undone by evergreen Malcolm Holt who took 5-54, and Tipler 3-34, and fell just short of their target.
Skipton CI dismissed Pendle Forest for 116 at Sandylands with Chris Wright taking 7-56. The homesters cantered to a solid six wicket win with Mal Seward leading the way with 33.
Embsay's Nas Hussain 6-77 and Simon Holt 4-67 had Long Lee back in the hut for 148. Holt followed this with 58no as his side won by four wickets. T Hussain 40 and Q Hussain 3-27 were the pick of the Keighley side's performance.
Cullingworth were just too strong for Ingrow St John's, winning by three wickets, and it was a similar story at Barrowford where Airedale went down by 38 runs.
Bradley, the Division Four leaders, were in impressive form over at Chatburn. They restricted the Ribblesdale side to 104-8 with Ashley Walmsley 3-53 and Robert Hirst 4-41 bowling through. Andrew Curtis with 40 lead the reply which was successful by nine wickets.
T Khan took 8-11 in just eight overs as Ingrow dismissed Gargrave for 39. The Keighley side lost three wickets passing their target.
Foulridge rattled up 218-5 at home to Sutton. Steve Kegg made 52, Mick Gildea 46no, Bernard Swarbrick 36 and David Haworth 35. In reply the South Craveners made a creditable 159 with D Clark making 64 and Tony Walton 38. Tony Bradley took 5-47 for the Noyna side.
Second placed Glusburn took a tumble from grace as they crashed for just 59 against Pendle Forest III. However they made the homeside fight for their victory by taking six of their wickets before they reached their target.
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