Two teenagers were among the star performers as the Craven League’s cricketers bathed in glorious sunshine.

Perhaps the day’s best batting display occurred in Division Four, where 13-year-old Billy Whitford scored a magnificent 122 not out for Cullingworth Seconds against Long Lee Seconds.

Whitford and Martin Rendell (113) put on 169 for the fourth wicket as, backed up by Dave Hall (55no), Cullingworth racked up 355-4. Long Lee were then restricted to 81-7 in reply.

But on a day when batsmen were to the fore, 16-year-old Luke Scothern produced possibly the bowling highlight as Thornton beat fellow strugglers Embsay in Division One.

First Rob Foster stuck a superb 118 as Thornton amassed 255-7, before Scothern’s leg spin bamboozled the Embsay batsmen on the way to a return of 7-28 as the hosts were hustled out for 131.

Leaders Oakworth were in fine form as they saw off Haworth Road by five wickets.

Mohammed Zahid (73) led Road to 170 against Jack Davison, another leg spinner who took 5-45, before Gareth Marshall (97no) steered Oaks home by five wickets.

Crossflatts are second, seven points adrift, after a comfortable win at Bingley Congs, who were all out for 112 as Feyaz Akram added 6-31 to his earlier score of 77. Cammy Ayub (80) had top-scored as ’Flatts walloped 240-8.

There was a nail-biting finish at Cullingworth as Ingrow St John’s lost out to their fellow high-fliers by seven runs.

St John’s had the game’s two highest scorers (Farhan Abbasi 70, Ahtasham Raza 51) but Phil Poole’s 5-57 proved decisive after Cullingworth defended 220-9 (Raza 4-47).

Another close contest saw Haworth go down by six runs at home to Barrowford, who reached 183 (Nick Burton 54) before Ajmal Choudrhy (5-33) restricted the reply to 177 (Nick Trowers 52).

Bottom side Foulridge went down narrowly for the fourth successive game as, chasing Bradley’s 195-4 (Neil Andrews 57), they closed on 187 (Phil Binner 6-52).

Division Two pace-setters Riddlesden suffered only their second defeat of the season but it was sufficient to knock them off the summit.

Visiting Wilsden made 173 and, despite 50 from Adam Khan, could only respond with 158 as Stuart Wilson took 5-39.

The new leaders are Cowling after they won at Pendle Forest, who were unable to defend 190-6 (Martyn Dalby 5-57) as Steve Richardson (79no) sealed a four-wicket success with three balls to spare.

Barrowford Seconds wiped out the memory of their shock Cowling Cup defeat as they hammered rock-bottom Airedale by 113 runs.

Shakeel Butt made 75 and Johnny Ormerod 63 as the hosts raced to 256-7 and the Keighley side could only reply with 143 (Waris Ismail 60).

Mark Price starred for Ingrow at home to Oakworth Seconds as he took 6-41 in the visitors’ 174 (Simon Howell 78) before adding an unbeaten 114 to seal a seven-wicket verdict.

Glusburn (197-6) won the local derby at Sutton (110) by 87 runs, with Nick Williamson (75 and 5-23) the pick of the players on show.

Long Lee got the better of Denholme after making 202 (Paul Stowell 50, Tom Greenwood 5-21) before Neil Kennedy claimed 5-62 in the response of 176.

In the topsy turvy Division Three title race, Chatburn returned to the top as they beat Crossflatts Seconds while Sandy Lane went down heavily at Wilsden Seconds.

At Rhysworth Park, John Gath made 69 as the home side made 155. James Price (78) set up the Ribble Valley side’s comfortable eight-wicket victory.

At Windy Grove, Wilsden Seconds’ batters went to town and plundered a huge 334-8 – after being reduced to 8-3. M Kiyani scored 73, Matthew Bailey 72 and Imran Khan 56. The Greenwood Park side where hustled out for 143, with Khan taking 5-34.

There was a close finish at Gargrave where Embsay Seconds snatched the points by one wicket with three balls to spare. In-form Lee Barrett made 73 not out to help the Skipton Road side to 176-8. Zaffar Iqbal (55) got the Shires Laners close to the line and it was left to two of the junior players to get the seven required for victory.

Mick Taylor (77) and Mick Holmes (76) put on 156 in 32 overs for Haworth Road Seconds, who posted 213-2. Visitors Haworth WE were always behind the run rate before a spirited seventh-wicket partnership of 54 in five overs brought them into the game. But when that stand was broken, the last four wickets fell cheaply and the innings closed on 185 (Andy Holt 52).

Bradford & Bingley Thirds beat Eldwick & Gilstead by 62 runs, with A Dobson (50) and N Smith (5-22) doing the business.

There was a run feast at Street Lane, where Cononley bashed 296-5. Ingrow St John’s Seconds replied with a creditable 238.

A rearranged Sunday match saw Bradford & Bingley Thirds entertain Eldwick & Gilstead and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The visitors batted first and made 144 (C Childs 50) as Dave Critchlow claimed 8-36. The Wagon Laners were in desperate straits when they stood at 110-9 but Richard Foulder and Brad Davies chipped away and got their side over the line with just two balls to spare.

Skipton CI are cantering away with Division Four. They entertained Ingrow Seconds and saw them post 175. Martin Seward (52) led the successful reply with six wickets down.

Eight points behind come Riddlesden Seconds, who took part in a tie at Bradley Seconds. The Grange Road side were restricted to 110 as Andy Holmes took 5-37. Harry McGowan made 52 in reply as D Spencer took 5-39 and Bob Morrisroe 5-16.

Glusburn Seconds beat Bingley Congs Seconds by four wickets at Park Field. Brian Hollis bowled through to take 6-51 as the Beckfoot side made 139.

Danny Oldfield (4-63) helped Thornton Seconds restrict Pendle Forest to 158-9 at Booth Bridge Lane, with Aneel Ahmed making 60. Anthony Reedy (50) and seasoned campaigner Marc Procter (42no) saw the home side to the spoils by seven wickets.

Haworth Seconds ran into Airedale Seconds’ Giles Wilmore in good form at Bradford Road. He took 7-13 as the Bronte crashed out for 72 and the hosts sauntered home by seven wickets.

Denholme Seconds took advantage of Division Five leaders Oakworth Thirds’ open date to close the gap at the top to just one point. They were at Cononley Seconds and dismissed them for 133 as Alistair Gerrard took 5-32. In reply the visitors got home by five wickets as Callum Gerrard made 81.

Level with Denholme Seconds are Foulridge Seconds, who enjoyed an 81-run victory in a low-scoring game at Sandy Lane Seconds. The Noyna side posted a modest 126 and then shot the Greenwood Park side out for a paltry 45, with Ray Tunnicliffe taking 4-0 off three overs.

Up at Keighley Road, Cowling Seconds were dismissed for 131 as Rob Storr claimed 7-25. Under-17s player Joe Wood made 37 as Gargrave Seconds won by four wickets.

Chatburn Seconds were too strong for visitors Sutton Seconds. First Damian Gupta hit a superb 97 to set up a fine 182-6. Then Chris Mulhearn took 5-19 to have the Royd Hill side back in the hut for 47.

Skipton CI Seconds enjoyed a 27-run victory at Haworth WE Seconds. Going first they plundered 241, before A Hallas (104) led the spirited reply that closed on 214 (V Nawaz 5-37).

On Sunday, Denholme and Cononley met for the second day running with the former running out winners again. Callum Gerrard (86) helped the Bradford Road side to 237. The visitors replied with 177, of which Richard Mansell made 68 as Alistair Gerrard took 4-45, which included a hat-trick.