Bradford side Bowling Baptist celebrate unlikely double

There was no issue with the first team, who had already wrapped up the Division Two title.

However, Skipton CI II only needed seven points to pip Bowling Baptists II, who had completed their programme, for the second promotion slot in Division Four.

But CI only gained six points in a 13-run defeat to Haworth II, putting them level with Bowling on 233 points, but lost out on an inferior runs-per-wicket ratio, with Bowling having 7.54 and CI 6.62.

Hepworth & Idle III finished off their campaign by notching only their third win of the campaign, scoring 159-9 after being sent in at Denholme II.

They were 20-2 but Bradley Elliott led their recovery with a magnificent 81 off only 69 balls, which included 14 fours and two sixes.

Denholme were sitting pretty at 88-2 in reply but were dismissed for 145 as Gary Wilkinson (5-31) and Yvonne Baines (3-19) triggered a collapse.

The upshot of the win was that the Westfield Laners did not finish bottom, as Ingrow II were a point worse off on 109.

Hepworth & Idle’s first XI clung on to third place in Division One, despite losing at home to Cowling.

Cowling recovered from 29-4 to score 143 after winning the toss, Jonny Thompson electing to give all 11 of his players a bowl, Jonathan Robinson (2-7), the promoted Swaraj Thakur (2-11) and Tom Hawksworth (2-23) being the most successful.

The Westfield Laners lost half their wickets for 33, but Thompson made a defiant 56, including 10 fours, as they were eventually bowled out for 101.

Haworth Road Meths finished fifth, defeating visitors Bradley by 54 runs after winning the toss.

The middle and lower order enabled Meths to score 154 after a dodgy start, Shahid Saleem (37) and No.10 Charles Briggs (37no) top-scoring.

Saleem then took 5-17 in his side’s comfortable victory.

Shahid Saleem scored 37 and took five wickets as Haworth Road Meths won comfortably in their final game of the season. (Image: Andy Garbutt.)

Eldwick & Gilstead, who finished sixth, also ended on a low - but at least they lost at champions Gargrave, who made 187 after winning the toss, Ajeet Singh taking 4-34 and Matthew Sharp 3-39.

The visitors were in the game at 38-1 but lost their last nine wickets for 45, with opener Deependra Rathore (21) the best of five players in double figures.

A maximum points haul would have given Wilsden a chance of staying up, but they ended up with nothing from their comprehensive home defeat to Glusburn, who dismissed the hosts for 50 after winning the toss.

It took Glusburn only 7.3 overs to knock off the runs for the loss of one wicket to seal Wilsden’s demotion.

Bowling Baptists notched their 14th win of the season in Division Two, visitors Denholme winning the toss and making 153-5, Muhammad Zulfiqar Khan taking 2-38 and Shazaid Yousaf 2-22.

Baptists were 48-3 but were solid after that, as Shahbaz Ishaq (55no) saw them to a five-wicket win in the 37th over.

Basement boys Hepworth & Idle II were no match for Ingrow, whose late-season flurry helped them avoid relegation, as did Skipton CI.

Sent in, Ingrow made 258-9, skipper Martin McCulley being the best of the eight bowlers used with 3-47 off 12 overs.

Hepworth & Idle, who only had 10 batters available, were then skittled for 57 in 22.2 overs, McCulley scoring 25.

Bradford & Bingley III, who were sixth in Division Three, finished with a home defeat against fourth-placed Gargrave II, making 131 after winning the toss.

Shahbaz Ahmed (30) and Hamzah Zakir (28) top scored for them, and there was some hope when Gargrave were 65-4, but that was snuffed out by Adam Hudson’s 78 not out as the visitors won by five wickets.

Wilsden II won the toss at Menston IV and sent the home side in.

They made 219-6 and Wilsden were struggling to reach three figures in reply at 41-5.

However, skipper James D’Arcy Brain then scored 32 before being last out at 127.

Relegated Bingley Congs III were dismissed for a miserable 65 at third-placed Silsden II, with the hosts winning by seven wickets in the 18th over.