BOWLING Baptists are the new leaders of Division Two in the Timothy Taylor’s Craven League after triumphing in a top-of-the-table clash at Scotchman Road.

They scored 216 after winning the toss and then dismissed former front-runners Silsden for 131.

Mohammed Zahid (83) was the main driver behind an impressive total for Baptists, with his runs coming off 96 balls and including 14 fours and two sixes.

Silsden were in the hunt at 113-5 but lost their last five wickets for 18 runs as Zulfiqar Khan took 4-17 off nine overs.

Baptists now lead the table by seven points from the Cobbydalers, but Hepworth & Idle II are still at the opposite end of the table after being dismissed for 27 at Thornton-in-Craven.

Swaraj Thakur took 4-40 and Muhammad Abdullah 3-52 in Thornton’s 197, but the visitors’ innings only lasted 12.3 overs after tea, skipper Martin McCulley scoring almost half of those runs (13) from No.11.

Hepworth & Idle’s first XI also lost - by 57 runs at home to Glusburn in Division One in what became an all-rounder shoot-out.

Umar Farooq scored 82 in Glusburn’s 192 and then took 6-24 as the Westfield Laners were dismissed for 135.

That was tough luck on Jonny Thompson, who scored 59 off 66 balls for the losers having earlier bagged 3-45.

Thompson was backed up in the bowling department by Noah Henry, who took 4-19.

Hepworth & Idle stay second, however, but Eldwick & Gilstead have climbed one place to seventh after defeating Haworth Road Meths by 16 runs at Grange Road.

Sent in, Matthew Sharp scored 75 for E&G off 62 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, adding 74 for the third wicket with Charlie Raistrick (33).

Skipper Arnie Raistrick weighed with 53 not out off 36 deliveries, including four fours and four sixes, putting on 50 for the sixth wicket with Sharp in their 202-8.

Mohammed Sajjad took 3-56 for Meths, who could only reply with 186, the defeat dropping them from third to fourth.

At least No.9 Tom Kaznowski had some fun, making 58 off 51 balls in a losing cause. The main reason they fell short was some fine bowling from E&G’s Ajeet Singh, who took 4-18 off eight overs.

Wilsden remain second from bottom after a narrow defeat at home to high-flying Cowling, who made 155 after being asked to bat, Sam Mitchell taking 3-40 and Ben Mitchell 4-32.

Wilsden's bowling effort against Cowling put them in a position of strength, but a batting collapse saw them fall to a narrow defeat.Wilsden's bowling effort against Cowling put them in a position of strength, but a batting collapse saw them fall to a narrow defeat. (Image: Richard Leach.)

The hosts looked favourites when they were 120-4, the in-form Pete Longley scoring 52, including eight fours, but they lost their last six wickets for just 24 runs.

There was better news for Wilsden’s second team, who won their first game in Division Three and got themselves off the bottom of the table after a mighty collapse from hosts Bingley Congs III.

Wilsden’s last five only contributed 11 runs as they were dismissed for 115 after being sent in, Matthew D’arcy Brain leading the way with 40 before Zeeshan Ahmed (3-23) cashed in.

Congs’ capitulation was even more startling, however, as they went from 111-6 to 114 all out, losing three wickets on Nelson as they slipped a place to sixth.

Keeper Luka Atanaskovic (23) and Tahir Arshad (35) had helped to put Congs on the brink of victory, only for teenagers Ollie Houldsworth (4-11 off 9.2 overs) and Huw Pacey (2-15 off 10) to help snatch it away.

One place behind Congs are Bradford & Bingley Thirds, who swapped places with Menston Fourths after defeating them by 23 runs at High Royds.

Bingley were indebted to Shahbaz Ahmed in their 122 as he made 62 off 74 balls, including seven fours and a six.

Menston were 95-5 but then lost the other half of their wickets for an additional four runs as Farhan Khalid took 4-20 from 12 overs.

A special mention must also good to 12-year-old Hugo Nolson, who claimed 2-19 in a winning cause.

Bowling Baptists’ second XI climbed one spot to sixth in Division Four after a comprehensive victory over Hepworth & Idle III at Idle Upper Chapel.

The bulk of Baptists’ runs came from Ayaan Munawar (79), as he helped them rack up an imposing total of 224-6.

Finley Matthews, aged 15, took 2-31 and Gary Wilkinson 2-23 for the home side, who were then dismissed for 47 to complete a miserable day for their three teams.

All seven Baptists bowlers took wickets, headed by 15-year-old Armaan Mahmood (2-0), 17-year-old Hamid Mehmood (2-1) and 16-year-old Muhammad Daim Farooq (2-14).