IT is all change at the top of the Craven League after a thrilling battle between the top two.

Leaders Cowling were put in by Bingley Congs, who must have been wondering if they had made the right decision when the hosts posted 294-9, despite Harry Greenhalgh (4-78) and Neil Copping (3-67) largely avoiding the chaos.

One bowler who didn’t was Danny Pearson, whose two overs cost 36 runs, although he did take a wicket on the day before his wedding at the Parish Church of All Saints in Bingley, with the wedding reception afterwards at Congs.

“She probably won’t want to marry me now,” laughed Pearson during the tea interval at Cowling.

Congs players, whether it was bravado or self-belief, were confident about their reply, however, and won by six wickets with 16 balls to spare.

Openers George Hicks (103) and Simon Bailey (34) set the tone and Mohammad Adil (74) and Copping (52no) carried on the good work.

Congs are now the leaders by a point from Cowling, with Haworth a further point back in third, waiting for any slip-ups.

Wilsden, boosted by the return of Chris Mitchell from Hepworth & Idle, who they have also signed Joe Allatt from, had an easy win at home to Sutton.

Sam Mitchell (2-25) and Ben Mitchell (2-35), Chris’ brothers, helped to make life difficult for Sutton, who could only score 106-6 from their 40 overs.

Glenn Stableford (41no), Chris Mitchell (37) and Allatt (21no) then helped Wilsden to a nine-wicket win in the 22nd over.

Haworth Road Meths made 159-9 after being sent in at Oakworth, with Fahim Khan (77) and skipper Andy Gudgeon (58) putting on 95 for the seventh wicket after they were 30-6.

Oakworth then won by 10 wickets in just the 19th over.

At the bottom, Ingrow notched a vital 36-run win over Hepworth & Idle, boosting their chances of staying up.

Hosts Ingrow won the toss and batted, making 142, despite Mark Harland (2-15), Harry Pinkney (2-23) and Simon Raistrick (2-29) returning good figures.

Hepworth & Idle were then dismissed for 106, with Glenn Pinkney top-scoring with 38.

Long Lee were the latest team to get their hopes up, only to have them dashed by Bradford & Bingley III in Division Two, this time at Golden View.

The Keighley side, sent in, made 181-7, with Farhan Khalid taking 4-41.

Bingley were then 69-5 but their lower middle order came good, as they often do, and they won by four wickets in the 37th over, with Shahbaz Ahmed scoring 50, Andrew Dobson 46 not out and Irfan Ulhaque 34 not out.

Eldwick & Gilstead won the toss and batted at promotion-chasing Bradley, but could only score 131, with Ajeet Singh (22) and Mark Roach (20) the only players to make 20 or more.

Bradley lost six wickets in notching victory, despite Singh taking 2-14.

Leaders Gargrave added to the long losing run of Bingley Congs II, defeating them by 10 wickets at Beckfoot Lane.

Congs, sent in, were castled for 81, despite another good start by James Dennison (32).

Gargrave won halfway through the 15th over.

In Division Three, Hepworth & Idle II, who won the toss at home to Wilsden II, managed to defend their score of 124, climbing two places to sixth as a result.

Young wicket-keeper Jack Bedford made 51 for the Bradford hosts, putting on 72 for the third wicket with Jonny Jenkins (18). Matthew Davies chipped in with 23 as Matthew D’arcy-Brain took 5-18.

But nine-man Wilsden could only muster 101 in reply, with Ben Reynard scoring 22 and Mudassar Riaz 20 as Dave Dunne took 2-18, Martin McCulley 2-10 and Kara Price 2-3.

Bedford opened the bowling as Malcolm Kershaw kept for the first 16 overs, and then Bedford took the gloves, pulling off a stumping.

In Division Four, Bingley Congs III were sent in at Sandy Lane by Keighley III and were indebted to skipper Simon Webster’s 37 not out for making 81, with Jordan Robinson scoring 16.

However, the visitors then won by seven wickets in just 19 overs.

Hepworth & Idle III were given a walkover by Airedale II.

Elsewhere, no batsman scored over 30 in what proved to be a tense Wynn Cup semi-final replay.

However, Barrowford, with home advantage this time, squeezed home by two wickets against Haworth Road Meths and will face Oakworth in the final on Sunday at Bingley Congs (1pm).

Meths won the toss and chose to bat, but only Mansha Khan (29) and Chris Griggs (27) scored more than 20 and the visitors ended up on 112-9 after a tough 40 overs, with Jahangir Babar (4-15), Abdul Mannan (3-21) and Zahid Iqbal (2-27) doing well with the ball.

Opener Shuja Rashid fell for a duck when Barrowford batted, but Freddie Bailey and Aziz Iqbal then each scored 22, and No.8 Karim Khan’s 24 helped Barrowford over the line.

Mansha Khan bowled superbly for Meths, recording an analysis of 3-8 from his 10 overs, but Barrowford just had the edge.