ELDWICK & Gilstead have thrust themselves into the title picture in Division One of the Timothy Taylor’s Craven League.
They handed leaders Gargrave their first defeat of the season, dismissing the visitors for 96 after winning the toss, with Ajeet Singh taking 5-30 and skipper Arnie Raistrick 4-10.
Matthew Sharp (26) then got E&G off to a bright start, as they won by five wickets inside 26 overs.
Eldwick & Gilstead and Cowling, who are third on net run rate, are now on 112 points, just eight behind Gargrave.
Haworth Road Meths, who too often in recent years have been in the bottom half of the table, are now fourth on 106 points after winning by 24 runs at Bradley.
Meths won the toss and scored 201-5, with opener Asad Rashid (56) top scoring before Shahid Saleem scored 42 not out off 25 deliveries.
Shahid Saleem starred with the bat on this occasion as Haworth Road Meths held off a late Bradley fightback to win. (Image: Andy Garbutt.)
Bradley were 99-6 but did well to make 177, as Mohammad Ibrahim taking 4-69 and Mansha Khan claimed 3-14 off 12 overs.
Jonny Thompson had a superb match for Hepworth & Idle, but finished on the losing side at Cowling, taking 5-36 as the home side were dismissed for 146.
He then scored 52, but was among only three Westfield Laners to make double figures as they were back in the pavilion for 131 to lose by 15 runs, dropping them one spot to fifth.
Wilsden, who are propping up the table on 44 points, did not detain Glusburn for very long at Park Field, captain Sam Mitchell (22) being the only player in double figures as they were skittled for 48 in 19.1 overs after being sent in.
Glusburn took less than 10 overs to pass that score for the loss of one wicket.
Bowling Baptists are looking good for promotion from Division Two, despite having to settle for a draw in a rain-affected match at Denholme.
Baptists made an imposing 294-7 after winning the toss, with openers Muhammad Zulfiqar Khan (49) and Shahbaz Ishaq (70) setting the tone in a partnership of 92.
Raees Ishtiaq struck 55 to back that good start up, before Salba Rahman (30no) gave the innings a late boost.
Denholme were 83-7 off 31 overs, with Sohail Butt having taken 3-33, when time expired, leaving both sides with five points - a result which dropped Bowling to second behind Silsden.
It was a red-letter day, however, for basement boys Hepworth & Idle II, who won their first league match of the season.
They asked Ingrow to bat and Swaraj Thakur took 3-38 in their 190.
The second strings were in deep trouble at 20-5 and 52-6, but were carried towards victory by Yousaf Iqbal (76) and captain Martin McCulley (63no), who added 75 for the seventh wicket.
Hepworth & Idle eventually won by three wickets in the 31st over, Muhammad Abdullah (29no) helping McCulley add 45 unbroken to get them over the line.
Fourth-placed Bradford & Bingley III’s up and down season continued in Division Three with an agonising one-wicket defeat at Gargrave II.
Bingley chose to bat, but didn’t set the world alight with their 105-8, with Noel Flynn (25no) and 12-year-old Hugo Nolson (20) the best of four players in double figures.
The visitors were scenting victory as only three home players reached double figures, but one of them crucially was skipper Dominic Fernyhough, who scored 56 not out, shepherding his side across the finishing line with an over to spare.
Bingley Congs III chose to have first knock at home to promotion-chasing Silsden II and made 145, an innings that was dominated by No.7 Tahir Arshad, who thrashed 70 off 55 deliveries.
Andrew Copping supported him well with 37, but despite him then taking 2-25 and Sarfraz Mahmood 3-43, Silsden won by four wickets to go top.
Wilsden II dropped to the bottom after making only 41 at home to Menston IV, as they collapsed from 22-1.
Menston won by seven wickets in the 17th over to climb one place to seventh.
In Division Four, Bowling Baptists II are up one spot to sixth after a comfortable success at Scotchman Road.
They made 157 after being sent in, with opener Usman Ahmed top scoring with 43.
Airedale were then dismissed for 98, with Muhammad Daim Farooq taking 4-17.
Hepworth & Idle III were on the wrong end of a very low-scoring match at home to Long Lee II, who were dismissed for 58 in 25.2 overs, with Zach Holland returning outstanding figures of 5-7 from his 8.2 overs, as 14-year-old Alyssa Carver chipped in with 4-21.
However, there were six ducks after tea, as the third strings were skittled for just 21 in 13.5 overs, dropping them one place to seventh in the process.
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