WILSDEN have notched a vital win in their bid to avoid relegation from Division One of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

They defeated hosts Hepworth & Idle by 94 runs to move out of the demotion berths and put Eldwick & Gilstead there instead.

Sent in, Wilsden were 53-3 before a crucial partnership of 95 between skipper Sam Mitchell (71) and Sikander Mahmood (79) helped them make 178.

Mitchell’s runs came off 59 balls and included 10 fours and two sixes, while Mahmood’s innings lasted 51 balls and contained five fours and seven sixes.

For Hepworth & Idle, Jonny Thompson took 4-35 and Harry Pinkney 3-73.

The Westfield Laners were never at the races in their reply, being dismissed for 84, as the outstanding Mitchell took 3-12 off 8.3 overs, with Mahmood completing his own excellent all-round display with 3-28.

Eldwick & Gilstead, who have now lost six of their last seven completed matches, went down by 28 runs in a low-scoring encounter at Gargrave, who were dismissed for 108.

The wickets were shared between Matthew Sharp (3-30), Arnie Raistrick (3-18), Kieren Temprell (2-21) and Jordan Bayliss (2-34), but Sharp was the only batter to shine after tea.

He made 47, and the next highest scorer was opener Rob Unsworth with eight as E&G were castled for 80.

They are now on 105 points, with Wilsden on 112, Haworth Road Meths on 113 and Denholme on 114 in an intense battle to avoid the second relegation berth, with Sutton last on 74.

Meths were the latest team to succumb to leaders Riddlesden, who made 213-9 at Grange Road after being sent in, Goher Ayoub taking 4-49.

The visitors were then dismissed for 125, despite 32 from Will Burgess and 31 from Ayoub.

In Division Two, bottom-of-the-table Bradford & Bingley III could not raise a side to face Hepworth & Idle II as the summer holidays, weddings and even Bradford City home games all had an effect in conceded matches in the league in general.

Bingley, who have 57 points, are now 50 points from safety with five matches left, while Hepworth & Idle II are sitting pretty in mid-table on 141 points.

Bowling Baptist could be heading for two promotions in their first season in the league as their first XI are now 31 points in front of second-placed Cononley in Division Three and 73 in front of third-placed Bingley Congs III.

Baptist were at struggling Cowling II and made 164 after choosing to bat, captain Raees Ishtiaq (43) and Faizan Khalid (30) doing well in a strong top order.

The hosts were then dismissed for 86, with Ubayd Ali (4-11), the fifth bowler used, doing most of the damage.

Congs III could not raise a side to face Haworth II, who are bottom of the table, which must have made the decision even harder to bear.

Wilsden II benefited from a walkover against Skipton CI II, which improved the former’s chance of survival in what is a dogfight to stay up, with only 18 points now separating the bottom five.

Bowling Baptist II are level on points with Silsden II (143) in second place in Division Four, 33 behind Sutton II.

Baptist II hosted nine-man Airedale and rolled them over for 63 after the latter had won the toss, with Khalid Mahmood returning the outstanding analysis of 6-9 from 5.3 overs.

Captain Rizwan Ali then finished on 40 not out as the hosts won by nine wickets in the 21st over.

Hepworth & Idle III were involved in a decent game against Silsden II at Cambing, making 176-5 declared in 27 overs after being sent in in a weather-interrupted match.

Bradley Elliott (40) and Sean McEvoy (58) put on 82 for the first wicket, hitting 21 fours and a six between them, and Jamie Cox (39no) and Dave Dunne Snr (20no) ensured that there was no tailing off with an unbroken stand of 47.

Silsden II timed their run chase nicely, however, winning by eight wickets with three-and-a-half overs to spare, James Nelson (131 not off 67 balls, including 14 fours and 11 sixes) playing one of the innings of the season after they had been 13-2.

Dave Dunne Snr (2-20) took both wickets to fall.

*The Craven League’s annual dinner has been moved from Friday, October 13 to Friday, October 20 owing to the unavailability of Bradford & Bingley Sports Club on the initial date.