THE Mewies Craven Cricket League side made their annual pilgrimage to Pateley Bridge to take on the Nidderdale Show XI and emerged with a thrilling six-run victory.

Craven won the toss and skipper Neil Copping (Bingley Congs) decided to bat first. Asher Imdad (Barrowford) and Matt Wear (Denholme) made a good start and put on 70 for the first wicket before the former perished for 35.

Wear was then joined by club team mate Toby Priestley but was soon out for 38. Priestley, the hero here two years ago, followed straight after for 10.

Cameron Knowles (Cononley) and Jonny Ormerod (Barrowford) then came together, taking the score to 127 before the latter was stumped for just nine.

Copping walloped 22 in seven balls before holing out. Knowles, having endured a torrid start, settled down to make 34, which included two sixes.

Martyn Dalby (Cowling) made 31 and Zahir Abbas (Haworth Road) scored 21, as a clutch of solid scores ensured the innings closed on 236-9.

There was a second-wicket partnership of 89 in the Show XI's reply as Louis Foxton and Chris Langley laid a strong platform.

Wasim Hussain (Crossflatts) eventually had Foxton caught in the deep for 46 before two more wickets fell with the score on 147.

Langley had ploughed on to make an excellent 73 before Hussain tempted him to go for a big hit, which landed in the hands of Jack Davison (Oakworth) in front of the pavilion.

Knowles soon took another wicket to make it 164-6 with nine overs remaining. That was the final dismissal of the match, as Will Watson and Joe Preece withstood all that was thrown at them.

They were falling behind the rate required though, and still required 44 from the last four overs.

Abbas went for 12 before the next over from Copping saw Watson hit two sixes to leave 20 from two overs.

Thirteen were needed from the final over but Copping held his nerve and gave the batsmen nothing to hit to the boundary.

The innings closed on 230-6, so Craven retained the trophy by the skin of their teeth. Watson was 41 not out and Preece 16no at the close, while Hussain finished with 4-38.

The Crossflatts bowler just missed out on the man of the match award though, as he was pipped by Langley.