Skipton's reply is perfectly weighted

However, a very balanced batting display from Skipton was timed to perfection and they concluded on 232 for four to win by the narrowest margin.

Unbeaten Steeton performed well to restrict Oxenhope to 225 for four, Jake Halls being the pick of the bowlers.

But the champions’ bowling proved different class and they took ten wickets as Steeton tumbled to 181.

Both Cobras and Sharks kept most wickets intact and the Cobras took the points on superior run-scoring.

Earby took a successive win, against the Rams notching up an impressive 272 for one.

The Rams had Freddie Binns in full flow with 26 but their total was only 241 for three.

In the Brook Taverner Under-13 League, the long-awaited meeting of the unbeaten Worth Valley teams Oxenhope and Oakworth was a classic encounter, with Oak-worth’s batsmen in fine nick.

Opener Ben Wedge (24) set the tone and skipper Ben Howell (25) and Jack Keighley (25) followed suit in a rumbustious 119 for two.

The Oxenhope reply wasn’t timid and Lewis Hopkinson and Josh Ferguson also posted 25s.

Needing a six from the last ball, the home side managed just a single and Oaks were the winners by just three runs.

Fourth-placed Skipton post-ed 120 for four at Earby after 25s from George Sutcliffe and Jane Newell.

Earby reached 80 for three after 25 for Jake Greenbank and 24 for Luke Hipgrave.

For Haworth West End, only Charlie Shimmin (21) showed form, and 50 for eight was unlikely to be challenging after a hat-trick in four for two from Liam Smalley.

So it proved as the Pendle Forest openers took just 7.2 overs to reach 51 for none.

Glusburn climb to second spot following their 101 for five against 39 all out defeat of Wharfedale Stags.

Dominic Mortimer led the batsmen with 27, while Lewis Robinson (3-2) and Louis Horsfield (3-4) undermined the Dales batters.

Oxenhope replayed their match with Forest and took a seven-wicket win to jump back to second spot.