Haworth cruise it in clash of top v bottom (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Haworth cruise it in clash of top v bottom

7:00pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Sport By Trevor Coe

Haworth, who are top of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League Division One, entertained bottom side Embsay and saw the visitors make a creditable 197-9, with Duncan Ward scoring 74 and Nathan Robinson 31 as Damian Rowell claimed 4-31 off 11 overs.

However, the Bronte side were never under any pressure and cruised home by seven wickets in the 38th over.

Star of the innings was undoubtedly Jamie Rowell, who hit a chanceless 102 not out and, together with Adie Parker (45), put on 100 for the third wicket.

The leaders have opened a four-point gap over Haworth Road, who were frustrated at Cullingworth.

The Baildon Bottom side had reached 150-4 in the 36th over when the rain arrived and washed out any further play. Will Burgess was on 43 not out.

Third-placed Crossflatts failed to take advantage of this when they were beaten by 35 runs by Oakworth at Ryshworth Park.

The Wide Laners amassed 241-6 in their overs, with Paul Spragg making 91.

The usual free-scoring hosts were then dismissed for 206 with A Saeed top-scoring with 50 as Michael Scarborough continued his good form with the ball by taking 6-59 off 14.5 overs.

Barrowford galloped over the border and claimed the scalp of Airedale by 75 runs.

Ajmal Choudrhy (67) and Matt Clark (37) helped the red-rose side to 172-5.

Then the former took 4-14 to go with Chris Platt’s 3-14 as the white-rose side crumpled to 97 all out.

Bingley Congs were left very frustrated in their quest for three points at Thornton.

Going first, the Beckfoot side found themselves 26-6 before Adie Dibb and David Tarren (15) battled to 74 before the next wicket fell. Dibb was last out for 67 as the total reached 125. Veteran Mark Paxton claimed 4-22 and Jack Laycock 4-35.

The Booth Bridge Laners started quite well but then wickets started to tumble and they were clinging to the wreckage at 92-8 when the rain rescued them.

Bradley did themselves a huge favour when they won their basement battle with Ingrow. The Hainworth side went first and after an opening stand of 54 they subsided to 114 all out as James Heseltine took 5-20 off 14.5 overs.

He followed this with 40 as he and Neil Robinson (49) put on 72 for the first wicket. The South Craveners sauntered home by seven wickets.

Ingrow St John's, leaders of Division Two, were staring at the abyss on their travels to Foulridge in the top-of-the-table clash.

Chasing the Noyna side's 132, they had stumbled to 46-5 when hailstones thunder and lightning washed the game out.

Third-placed Cowling closed to within a point of Foulridge when they demolished Sandy Lane at Keighley Road.

The Greenwood Park side were shot out for a paltry 49, with only skipper Mark Oldfield (16) reaching double figures as Steve Richardson took 7-13 in 10.3 overs.

He followed this with 23 as the home side crashed their way to an emphatic nine-wicket victory in the 12th over.

Fourth-placed Sutton are a further point behind and seeing off Long Lee by 62 runs at Royd Hill.

Oakworth II have gone off the boil since the start of the second half of the season. They travelled to Glusburn and went down by 59 runs.

Nick Williamson blasted 88 as the Park Field side posted 179-7, with Ben Fothergill taking 4-73. The latter, opening the innings, scored 41 to go with Drew Duffy’s 37 as the pair put on 60 for the first wicket.

Then Mark Pickles (5-79 off 23 overs) and Williamson (3-29 off 22 overs), tightened the screw and the innings closed on 120-8.

Riddlesden will feel robbed after they walloped Wilsden for 268 and were denied the opportunity to bowl the Shay Gate side out.

Mohammed Zulfiqar (67, including six sixes and six fours), V Kakkar (57) and G Ayub (50) were the main contributors for the Grange Road side as Steve Wright took 4-43.

Cononley were hung over from their day out at the test much and disintegrated to 25 all out at home to Pendle Forest. Extras top scored with eight and there were six ducks.

Nick Daniel was the destroyer in chief as he claimed 5-6 off 11 overs. The Fence side lost three wickets reaching their target in the 11th over.

Denholme continue to head Division Three after they saw off the challenge of Chatburn at Bradford Road.

The Ribble Valley slumped to 80 all out in the face a fine piece of bowling by Luke Pickles, who finished with 7-34 off 9.5 overs.

The leaders staggered to 12-4 before H Ali (31no) and T Greenwood (24no) saw them home by five wickets.

Barrowford II, a point behind the leaders, encountered few problems as they saw off Eldwick & Gilstead by seven wickets at Bull Holme.

Third-placed Haworth West End overcame the devastation of losing all their mowing equipment during the week in the best possible manner as they beat Ingrow St John’s by four wickets at Street Lane.

Andy Benfield (4-24) and Corey Benfield (3-16) helped the Saints back to the hut for 74. Then Joe Bottomley top-scored with 22 as the Penistone Hill side garnered the points.

Gargrave were at Embsay II and made a very creditable 171, with John Beckwith hitting a fine 84 (one six and ten fours) as Jonathan Coward took 4-70 and John Metcalfe 3-25.

The reply set off like a train as Morgan Davies crashed a six and six fours in a rapid knock of 31. Fellow opener Nev Allan (41no) and Coward (80no) took their side to the winning post without further loss.

S Khan (59) and Anthony Haigh (78) put on 108 for the first wicket for Haworth Road II at Crossflatts II and, with the aid of 37 extras, they totalled 217 as Brian Freimanis took 6-37.

In the reply, G Cook (61) and Freimanis (66) put on 129 for the first wicket and they also benefited from 32 extras to get home by five wickets, despite Khan taking 5-59.

Bottom side Cullingworth II travelled to Skipton for a battle of the basement and came away victorious by 18 runs. George Fletcher was their hero as he returned the incredible figures of 7-4 off 10 overs.

Wilsden II march on at the head of Division Four after a two-wicket win at Glusburn II.

Richard Golson (50) and Rummy Smith (6-63) did the business for the losers with Shahid Mahmood (34 and 3-11) performing the best for the winners.

Second-placed Bradford & Bingley III were in fine form across the road at Bingley Congs II. Tim Carrow set them on their way with a fine 76 before skipper Dave Cricthlow (61no) and Graeme Hudson (44no) put on 90 for the fifth wicket to take them to 227-4.

In the reply of 140, Rick Andrews scored 57 as Dan Baines claimed 4-17.

Airedale II are third, four points adrift of a promotion spot. They were at Ingrow II and dismissed them for 157, with Alan Hayes spinning his way to 7-47 off 15.2 overs.

The Bradford Road side lost two quick wickets to run outs then the middle order of J Milner (57), P Feather (44) and S Hunter (32) set up a fine five-wicket triumph.

Long Lee II, with Jan Haider scoring 59 and Mick Hawkes 50 not out, scored their highest score of the season 187-8, and still lost.

Haworth II got home by four wickets with just three balls of the game to go. Opener Aide Ratcliife made 69 as the Bronte side reached 98-6. Then C Smith (47no) and Derek Bright (43no) put on an undefeated 92 to carry them to the points. Earlier Bright had taken 5-68 off 23 overs.

Cononley II’s Joel Granger was in the wickets again, taking 6-35 down at Riddlesden II, who finished on 154. Sadly the visitors ran into a rampant Imran Mehban, who took 7-28 off 8.4 overs to have them back in the hut for just 45.

D Smith scored 71 of Bradley II's 133-7 at Sandy Lane II. Then J Andrews took 6-36 to restrict their hosts to 120 in reply.

Pendle Forest II have a very comfortable seven-point cushion at the head of Division Five.

On Saturday, they strolled past Denholme II by five wickets at Fence. Second-placed Cowling II received three points when Gargrave II couldn’t raise a team.

Chatburn II got the better of Skipton CI II by 76 runs and Thornton II saw off Oakworth III by five wickets at Bronte Fields.

Haworth West End II entertained Foulridge II and scored 157, with A Hallas making 37 and Charlie Shimmin 32 as evergreen Ray Tunnicliffe took 5-36.

In the reply of 112, Shimmin took 4-28, Peter Hatton 3-15 and Jack Shimmin 3-17 as J Swarbrick carried his bat for 43 not out.