Cricket: Craven League round-up

The South Craven side had been looking for revenge, but could only muster 142 before Gareth Marshall with 62 helped the visitors to the spoils by three wickets.

Oakworth were out of sorts at Cowling, being dismissed for 123. Graham Rankin scored 36 as Steve Richardson and Martyn Dalby claimed four wickets each. The homesters were made to work for the points, losing seven wickets before reaching their target. Keith Woodhead scored 46 as Jason Bilbrough finished with 4-46.

Barrowford put on a champions display at the head of the First Division, as they annihilated early season leaders Bingley Congs at Bull Holme.

Ronnie Misra who has been a big influence on the Red Rose side's fortunes this season, along with Ajmal Choudrhy and Farooq Shehzad, was in sparkling form again as he stroked a superb 96 which helped the side to a massive 239-5 in their innings. David Hartley chipped in with 54. The Beckfoot side were always on the back foot and slumped to 113. Duncan Thorne making 51 as Shehzad took 7-44 and Misra 3-25.

This maintains their one point lead over Embsay who travelled to Haworth WE and came away victorious by six wickets. In the process they confirmed the home side's relegation to the second division.

The Bronte side were dismissed for 71, thanks to a super bowling performance by John Metcalfe. He sent down 18 overs and finished with 9-34, as Andy Benfield with 31 tried his best to hold the winners at bay. The Shires Laners lost four wickets reaching their target with skipper Duncan Ward leading the way with 34no.

The other relegation spot is between Foulridge and Bradley, neither winning last week. The Noyna side were at Haworth and were blown away for 59. Phil Swarbrick made 24 as Damian Rowell took 4-5 off seven overs and Jamie Rowell 3-26. The Bronte side cantered home by nine wickets, with Richard Powell scoring 35no.

This leaves the Red Rose side two points adrift of Bradley whose trip to Thornton was unsuccessful. The South Craveners were restricted to a modest 126-6 with J Burke making 31no as youngster Matt Bowker finished with 4-40. Kev Pollard 52 and David Holt 38 helped guide the Booth Bridge Laners to an eight-wicket victory.

The top of Division Two is still a three horse race. Leaders Haworth Road Meths beat Airedale by four wickets. The Keighley side made a creditable 170-9 with Matthew Cox making 54 and veteran Phil Loftus 43. Andy Gudgeon's leg spin claiming 5-62 off 18 overs. In reply Paul Rodwell 52no and Charlie Hainsworth 40 helped the Baildon Bottom side past the winning post.

There was drama at Crossflatts where second placed Sandy Lane crept home by two wickets with just seven balls to go. The homesters 160-6 was built around L Bailey 47no and Nigel Brett's 36. The visitors were reeling at 9-3 before Wasim Aktar rescued the cause with 42. However when he went at 73, three more wickets fell reaching 87 and things looked bleak. However a rearguard 64no by Paul Oldfield see them to victory. Q Ayub took 4-61 and Mick Addy 3-50.

Ingrow are level with Sandy Lane on points but behind on run-rate after beating Pendle Forest by 76 runs at Hainworth

Skipton CI efforts to avoid relegation took a nosedive as they crashed to a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Sutton at Sandylands. Paul Williamson making 53 not out for the winners.

CI can still mathematically pull themselves clear for they are only three points behind Chatburn and Long Lee who met in the Ribble Valley with the home side reaping a vital three points. Steve Procter 37 and Steve Booth 69no helped the homesters to 162-8 as Matt Taylor took 5-46. The Keighley side were knocked over for 149 with Alec Pue scoring 37 as Booth took 3-38.

Cononley ensured their safety for another season with a solid four-wicket victory at Denholme. They chased the home side's 159 and with the aid of 56 from J Gosden reached their target despite 4-66 from Phil Poole.

There was a close call for Division Three leaders Embsay II who just saw off Gargrave by seven runs at Shires Lane. The home side struggled to 100 all out in their innings with Dave Barrett scoring 30. The visitors suffered three run outs as they narrowly failed to reach their target. Naz Hussein taking 6-28.

It was a different story at Oakworth II as they saw off Wilsden by 119 runs at Cure Hill. Steve Hartley 62 and Chris Mooney 35 set the platform for the homesters 188. The visitors were dismissed for 69 with D Wright making 31.

Ingrow St John's are third after seeing off Thornton II at Street Lane and in turn ending their hopes of promotion. Colin Bottomley hit a splendid 93 as the Saints made 192. Tim Gates finishing with 6-30 off seven overs. The visitors were dismissed a disappointing 103 with Jimmy Cowgill top scoring with 35 as Tony Haigh taking 5-48.

At the other end of the table Haworth Road Meths II dropped into bottom spot after a dismal showing at Riddlesden. They were knocked over for 56, which the home side passed without loss in only seven overs.

Pendle Forest II hauled themselves off the bottom with a fine eight wicket win at home to Ingrow St John's II. They are level on points with neighbours Barrowford II but behind on run rate.

The Bull Holme side moved over to the adjacent field to tackle Jimmy Nelson's and were beaten by seven wickets, with Darren Greenwood and M Iqbal taking five wickets each.

Glusburn II, already promoted, are going up as champions of Division Four after they thumped Airedale II by eight wickets at Bradford Road. The Keighley side were knocked over for 55 after being 40-4. Bryan Hollis with 5-23 off 14 overs doing the most damage. The visitors romped to the title in the 17th over. Who goes up with them is between Carleton and Keighley TC, with the former tackling the champions this Saturday.

Last week the Ramper Park side travelled to Bradley II and restricted the nine-man team to 147-7 with A Holmes making 33 as Martyn Windle took 4-28 off 17 overs. Windle followed this with a stunning 106no to lead his side to a smashing 10-wicket triumph in only the 19th over. His partner was Nev Allen who made a 'pedestrian' 36no.

Keighley TC entertained Haworth II and shot them out for a modest 87 with Chris Brookes taking 5-26 and Adam Greenwood 4-61. The Brookes then scored 55no as the Rose Cottagers skipped home by eight-wickets.

Bingley Congs II beat Crossflatts by 34 runs and Wilsden II saw off Skipton CI II by 80 runs.

Cononley II confirmed their promotion from Division Five and need just one point to go up as champions. They were in sparkling form at home to Denholme posting the day's highest score, 251-5, thanks to Dale Mason 75, Paul Carvin 56no and Michael Beer 47. The visitors were dismissed for 114 of which B Mottram scored 59 as Beer claimed 5-44 and Tom Holloway 5-45.

Sutton II who sat out last weekend also need a point to be promoted.

There was a low scoring game at Gargrave II where Chatburn II, with P Shorrock claiming 9-10, shot out the home side for a paltry 40. The Ribble Valley side faired little better only reaching the target after eight wickets had been lost.

Ingrow II beat Foulridge II by 53 runs at NoynIn a repeat of the Wynn Cup final, Cullingworth again saw off Glusburn in South Craven. The Park Field side could only muster 142 before Gareth Marshall with 62 helped the visitors to the spoils by three wickets.

Oakworth were out of sorts at Cowling, being dismissed for 123. Graham Rankin scored 36 as Steve Richardson and Martyn Dalby claimed four wickets each. The homesters were made to work for the points, losing seven wickets before reaching their target. Keith Woodhead scored 46 as Jason Bilbrough finished with 4-46.

a. They built on an opening stand of 138 by Tony Crook, 43, and S Khan, 71, to reach 215-5. The latter then took four wickets as the points were taken.

Finally Sandy Lane II beat Riddlesden II by eight wickets.