REIGNING champions Crossflatts suffered defeat on the opening day of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League as they were beaten by five wickets at Ingrow St John’s.

Flatts were restricted to 122, with skipper Dom Bennett (27) and Alex Bradbury (22) making the best contributions as new recruit from Keighley Humayun Shahzad claimed 4-17.

The Saints reached their target thanks to Ahtasham Raza (50) and Omar Khatab (35no) as Jim O’Hara took 3-25.

Last year’s runners-up Bingley Congs got off to a winning start at home to Haworth Road. They posted 223, with Neil Copping scoring 73, before the Baildon Bottom side made a decent fist of their reply with 191-8. Dil Nawaz (49) and Ian Robson (35no) were the top scorers as Matt Roberts (4-45) and Copping (3-23) did the business with the ball.

Sutton were quickly under the cosh at home to Barrowford. The Royd Hill side were reduced to 48-8 before Chris Walker (37no) and new recruit from Silsden Martin Shuttleworth (44) put on 88 for the ninth wicket with the innings closing on 136. Opener Shuja Rashid made 68no as the Bull Holme side galloped home by seven wickets.

Riddlesden fell apart when they entertained Oakworth as Richard Cavender (4-16) and Jack Davison (3-7) hustled them out for a modest 47. Joel Gallagher made 25 as the Cure Hill side romped home by nine wickets.

Newly-promoted Hepworth & Idle ran into Jamie Rowell and a Haworth side in good early form. He scored 69no to go with Aaron Putko’s 66 as they totalled 180-3, the pair putting on 112 for the fourth wicket.

In the Westfield Lane side's unsuccessful reply of 129, Rowell took 5-35 as Simon McDermott made 53.

Embsay were struggling at 42-6 before skipper Phil Binner made 48 to push the score to 126 at home to Denholme, who were then dismissed for 61 with Elliot Stockton taking 3-4, Scott Robinson 3-6 and Sam Arkwright 3-21.

The first century of the season came from Mark Price in Division Two as he hit 109no in Ingrow's 212-5 at Wilsden. The Windy Grove side had batted first and made 208, with Glenn Stableford top-scoring on 43 as Jake Hoyle claimed 4-67.

Foulridge posted the highest score of the day, 230-5 at home to Cowling, and the Coliseum side could only muster 103-9 in reply.

Newly-promoted Sandy Lane were indebted to Asim Iqbal (95) for the majority of their 161 as Rob Greenwood finished with 4-32. Visitors Haworth Road II sauntered home for the loss of two wickets with Charlie Hainsworth making 72 and Paul Rodwell 63no in a first-wicket partnership of 122.

James Lee made 34 as Oakworth II made 119-9 at home to Long Lee. Openers Lee Humphreys (33no) and Paul Stowell (74) put on 118 before the visitors cruised home by eight wickets.

Asad Ejaz (66) and Mick Feather (41no) helped Airedale to 196-5 against Glusburn at Bradford Road. The nine-man visitors were never in the hunt and closed on 100, of which Steve Brown scored 34 as Scott Ritchie took 4-30.

In a close finish at Chatburn, Ingrow St John’s II thought they had won by one run. However, after the game it was brought to the attention of the umpires that there was a discrepancy in the scorebooks and Chatburn thought they had won by one wicket.

A thorough check from the officials revealed that Ingrow St John’s II had actually won by two runs.

* The league report that some clubs were unaware that the number of overs a player can bowl has changed this season from 15 to 12.