IN MARKED contrast to how they batted the following day in the Wynn Cup final against Oakworth at Skipton CI, Bingley Congs were in the runs at Haworth in Division One of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

The Beckfoot Laners made 300 or more for the fourth time this season in racking up 305-7 after opting to bat.

Keeper George Hicks (58) and Johandre Barnard (60) got the ball rolling with a 115-run opening stand, and skipper Neil Copping weighed in with a muscular 91,, adding 63 for the fifth wicket with Matt Roberts (5).

Haworth replied with 168 as pace bowler Roberts again shone with 5-40.

Congs lead second-placed Oakworth by 32 points with six matches left, with the latter reckoning that Congs would have to lose two games and Oakworth win all of theirs to produce a change of leadership.

Oakworth made 230-7 at home to Haworth Road Meths, for whom Mohammed Ibrahim took 3-40.

The visitors then scored 154, with Mohammed Sajjad (47), Rehan Ahmed (26) and Tom Kaznowski (22) all topping 20.

Third-placed Hepworth & Idle, who are on 252 points, 15 behind Oakworth, had an easy day at Ingrow, who have now dropped to the bottom of the table.

Opting to bat, the home club could only total 89 as Simon Raistrick took 4-18, Jonathan Robinson 3-25 and Alex Robinson 2-25.

The Westfield Laners lost only two wickets in reaching their target at the end of the 26th over, with Jamie Topham 41 not out.

Wilsden were also on the wrong end of a heavy defeat at Gargrave, who made 290-9 after being sent in.

The visitors replied with 116, with Pete Longley (42) leading the three players in double figures.

In Division Two, Bingley Congs II’s remarkable journey towards safety continued with a third successive win, this time at home to Bradley.

Tom Parker scored 67 not out off 66 balls, including 11 fours, adding 59 for the fifth wicket with sheet anchor Chris Hemsley (40) and 61 for the sixth with Safraz Mahmood (39, including seven fours).

Facing a score of 194-6, Bradley could only make 155, with Towhid Ali taking 3-29 and Ali Asghar 4-48.

The shock result of the day, however, concerned second-placed Eldwick & Gilstead, who could only make 59 at Airedale Oval after winning the toss.

Only three players made double figures, headed by Jordan Bayliss (15), and Airedale recovered from 28-5 to win by five wickets - only the third win of the season for the bottom club.

Bradford & Bingley III are in real relegation danger now after another defeat - this time by 19 runs at home to Barrowford II, who made 128 as the wickets were shared between Farhan Khalid (3-35), Hikmat Ullah Safi (2-11) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2-23).

Bingley replied with 109, which was not bad considering that there were six ducks in their innings, including numbers two to five.

That they got so close from being 1-4 and 23-6 was down to main man Khalid (49no), who put on 49 for the ninth wicket with Daanyal Khan (12).

Hepworth & Idle II might be replacing them as they are second in Division Three, 35 points ahead of third-placed Cononley.

The Westfield Laners dismissed visitors Long Lee II for 105, an innings which contained four ducks as Dave Dunne took 5-35 and Swaraj Thakur 3-28.

The hosts won by five wickets at the end of the 27th over, with Yousaf Iqbal scoring 32.

Wilsden II were on the wrong side of the ledger at Cowling II after being dismissed for 139, having been 110-5, a total which was largely down to Nigel Butterfield (68), with just three of his team-mates making double figures.

Cowling II won by nine wickets off the penultimate ball of the 35th over.

The big news in Division Four was only a second win of the season for Hepworth & Idle III.

They sent in second-placed Airedale II and dismissed them for just 72, with Martin McCulley taking 4-24 and Wazeer Ahmed 3-5.

The hosts were then in a hurry to win, losing just two wickets in knocking off the runs in a mere 13.4 overs, with McCulley 28 not out and Matthew Davies 26 not out, Bradley Elliott having earlier made 16.

Leaders Bingley Congs III had a solid victory at Sutton II, scoring 152-8 after winning the toss with contributions from Paul Sansom (24), Rob Stow (21) and Jordan Robinson (20).

Sutton were then skittled for 64, with Shahid Mahmood taking 3-18, Asher Nutting 3-19 and Andy Greenwood 2-14.