Bowlers were on top again on Saturday in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League, with quite a number of scores of under a hundred being successfully defended.
After only three games in Division One, only Ingrow St John’s have a 100 per cent record after the other two joint leaders, Foulridge and Embsay, went down to defeat.
The Saints were at Haworth Road and posted 185, with Imran Zaman top-scoring with 41. The Baildon Bottom side managed 145 in reply, with Chris Griggs making 49 as Wasim Hussain claimed 5-34.
There was a nail-biter at Bingley Congs, where Foulridge were the visitors.
The Noyna side were demolished for 64, with only John Lickess (27) and 'Mr Extras' 12 reaching double figures, with Neil Copping (5-9) and Harry Greenhalgh (4-14) doing the damage.
The Beckfoot Lane side fared little better as they lost wickets at regular intervals to stand 17-6.
Opener Chris Dibb had been fighting a rearguard action, and when he went for 29 the score stood at 57-9.
Graeme Love, with the scores level, walloped a six to nick the points as John Lambert finished with 6-28.
Embsay posted a useful 162 at home to Crossflatts. However, they were all out in the 34th over. Those 11 extra overs proved to be crucial as the Ryshworth Park side reached their target in the 39th over – another 40 runs would have made things very interesting.
For the Shires Laners, Duncan Ward made 49 as Feyaz Akram took 4-24 and John O’Hara 4-60. Neil Bradbury top-scored for ‘Flatts as they won by four wickets. Charlotte Boulton made her debut for the visitors after transferring from Steeton.
Barrowford were in fine fettle at home to Cowling. Ajmal Choudrhy (96no) and Jonny Ormerod (92no) put on an undefeated 189 for the third wicket as the Bull Holme Oval side amassed 231-2 in their overs.
The Keighley Road side were on the back foot from the start and succumbed to 54 all out as Waseem Furquan took 5-14.
Haworth managed their first win at the third attempt when they beat visitors Thornton by seven wickets.
Jack Laycock made 42 of the West Craveners' 112, with Damian Rowell (3-9), Richard Ellis (3-29) and Gary Binns (3-39) doing the damage. Jamie Rowell (44) and Ellis (37) laid the foundation for the run chase, which reached its target in the 30th over.
Oakworth bounced back from their mauling last week with a seven-wicket win at Riddlesden.
The Grange Road side made 131, with Zahir Abbas scoring 33 as Michael Scarborough claimed 3-18. Then Jack Hainsworth (38) and Gareth Marshall (39no) ensured there was no slip up.
Chatburn and Glusburn sit on top of Division Two as both enjoyed comfortable wins.
The Ribble Valley side entertained Denholme and had them back in the hut for 155 as Joe Greenwood made 35 and Andy Booth took 5-41.
The hosts were reduced to 9-4 but recovered thanks to Stephen Kerr (79) to get home by two wickets in the 41st over.
Ian Simons (60) was the mainstay of Glusburn’s 195-8 as Abdul Mannan took 5-40 at home to Barrowford II. Nick Williamson (6-51) and David Atkinson (4-50) bowled through to dismiss the red- rose side for 114.
Ingrow saw off the challenge of Hepworth & Idle, who remain pointless, by three wickets.
The Westfield Lane side were dismissed for 85 after being 17-5 at one point, with Chris Herbert taking 4-20.
Shaun Humphreys (50) was the backbone of the Hainworth side's innings, which reached the target in the 28th over.
Long Lee’s trip to Wilsden proved fruitful, despite them being knocked over for a modest 103, of which skipper Jamie Greenwood made 27 as Dave Hahn took 4-44.
The Windy Grove side were then hustled out for 80 with new recruit Ian Roberts, formerly of Ingrow, taking 3-20.
Sutton welcomed Simon Doane back to the fold from Nelson and he played a big part in them taking the points by 60 runs.
The Royd Hill side struggled to 105, with Andy Kay making 21 as Chris Mitchell took 3-45. Visitors Sandy Lane were then hustled out for a paltry 45. Only Andy Blackburn (23) made double figures as Doane took 5-36 and Richard Walker 3-8.
Oakworth II must have fancied their chances after they stood at 54-1 chasing visitors Bradley’s 95 all out.
Unfortunately, they lost their last nine wickets for just 19 runs and lost by 22 runs, thanks to a fine piece of bowling by Casper Bean, who took 8-20 off 11 overs. Earlier James Lee had claimed 5-25 as the South Craveners were dismissed for 95.
Pendle Forest sit on top of Division Three with an 100 per cent record after demolishing Skipton CI by 119 down at Sandylands.
The Fence side made 148, with Mo Furqan leading the way with 47 not out and Andrew Townsend 33 as Sam Smith performed the hat-trick in his 7-43. The hosts crashed to 29 all out, with 14 of them being extras, as Rob Harris took 5-17 and Adnan Khalid 4-5.
Ingrow St John’s II entertained Haworth Road II and scored 153, with Rohid Ali making 58 and Mohammed Raza 34 as Rehan Ahmed took 3-30. In the Baildon Bottom side's reply of 73, Mohammed Naveed claimed 7-34.
Andrew (70) and Herbie Starkey (41) were the backbone of Cononley’s 205-9 against Embsay II, for whom Paul Wormald took 4-57 and Elliot Stockton 3-31.
The Shires Laners lost two early wicket before Jonno Coward and Brian Hodgson put on 179 for the third wicket, when the latter departed for 44.
Coward continued to the end and finished on 131no (11 sixes, nine fours) as victory was achieved by seven wickets in the 39th over.
Gargrave enjoyed a 72-run victory over Haworth West End at Skipton Road.
Chris Lambert (48) and skipper Sam Ridgway (39) helped the hosts to 173 as Corey Benfield took 4-53, Andy Benfield 3-51 and Graham Aldred 3-31. The Bronte side replied with 101, Danny Peel making 33 as Ted Wilman took 3-27.
Thornton II entertained Airedale and went down by nine wickets.
The Booth Bridge Lane side went first and Daniel Oldfield made 45 and evergreen Mark Procter 34 as Wayne Coppack bowled well to finish with 6-33.
The reply was stunning, with Warris Ismail and Sean Knapper putting on 115 for the first wicket, when the latter went for 71. Nick Ahad joined Ismail and the pair galloped to the winning post in the 31st over. Ismail was 41 not out and Ahad 34 not out at the close.
In Division Four, Qadeer Mohammed took 6-34 for Airedale II at home to Riddlesden II, who were all out for 94.
The hosts' reply never got going and they were all out for 49, with Imran Mehrban taking 6-18 and Mick Hawkes 4-9.
Hepworth & Idle II got the club’s first win in their new league as they beat Ingrow by 90 runs at Westfield Lane.
Dale Wood and John McDermott (44) put on 112 for the third wicket before Wood went for 68, and then Simon McDermott (53no) took the score to 239-5.
Tom Bradley (72) tried valiantly for visitors Ingrow II but they closed on 149 as Garry Orrell took 3-21 and Phil Haigh 3-47.
Bryan Fremanis made 97 not out as Crossflatts posted 160-5 in their 45 overs at home to Glusburn II.
In an exciting finish, the Park Field side recovered from 26-5 to close just nine runs short of their target. Alan Coney (67no) and Paul McCullough (42) were the leading run-getters as Mick Addy took 6-43 off 22 overs.
Up at Noyna, Foulridge II made 146, with Jonathan Swarbrick leading the way with 43 as Michael Baines claimed 4-45. Visitors Bingley Congs II charged to an eight-wicket win, with skipper Charlie Raistrick making 65 not out and John Hill 32.
Denholme II lost by 19 runs at home to Eldwick & Gilstead and Oakworth III saw off Haworth by six wickets at Bronte Field.
In Division Five, Frazer Atkinson top-scored with 51 as Long Lee II made 133-9 at home to Chatburn II, for whom Harris Holgate took 3-11. Then Chatburn coasted to a seven-wicket victory, with Paul Woodward (56) top-scoring.
Skipton CI II were too strong for a youthful Bradley II side, winning by 82 runs at Matthews Lane.
Sean Williamson made 36 in the visitors' 138-9, with Andy Holmes bowling through to finish with 5-70. Robert Suter (6-22) and Chris Windle (4-8) had the hosts out for 56.
Superb bowling from Haworth West End II skipper Pete Hatton (6-24) had Gargrave II back in the hut for 97 at Penistone Park.
Callum Collier (60no) and Kyle Welsh (16no) put on an undefeated 58 for the fifth wicket to see the Bronte side to the points.
Sandy Lane (78) saw Sutton (45) off at Greenwood Park, Raj Farooq taking 6-6 for the winners.
Finally, Cowling II were unable to raise a team to face Cononley II, who receive three points.
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