SOUTH African Johandre Barnard, who won the most aggregate runs and the Division One batting average trophies in the Craven League in 2019, has re-signed for Bingley Congs.

However, it was the man at the other end who delivered for the Beckfoot Laners on the opening day of the season.

Wicket-keeper George Hicks, who scored 607 runs in 2021 at an average of 55.18, bagged a century in Congs’ emphatic defeat of Wilsden.

Hicks made an unbeaten 119, including 16 fours and a six, as Congs recovered from 35-3 to total 228-8.

Pace bowler Matt Roberts weighed in with 46 down the order as Sam Mitchell proved a one-man barrier to an even heavier defeat.

The Wilsden skipper took 3-57 and then scored 46 of their 93 all out, Hasnat Bukhari making 24 as the duo put on 48 for the fifth wicket.

Harry Greenhalgh took 3-26, Neil Copping 2-16 and Barnard 2-28 to make up for his 18 with the bat.

Hepworth & Idle were also in the runs, scoring 238-4 after winning the toss and batting against Cowling at Westfield Lane.

Opener Jamie Topham (79) and keeper Luke Harland (56) added 120 for the second wicket, and captain Simon Raistrick (38no) also helped them to that healthy score.

Cowling could only make 204 in reply, which was largely down to Harry Pinkney (5-40), the league’s leading wicket-taker in the Covid-shortened season of 2020.

Haworth Road Meths did not unduly worry promoted Denholme at Baildon Bottom, being dismissed for 99 after winning the toss.

Rehan Ahmed (24) and Ian Robson (21) were the only Meths batsmen to break 20, Denholme winning by eight wickets in the 17th over.

Eldwick & Gilstead found things almost as easy in Division Two, winning by six wickets at Bradley after sending the hosts in.

Ajeet Singh (5-23) and Arnie Raistrick (4-44) did the damage, and then Rob Unsworth batted through after tea to finish with 83 not out as the twin villages won in the 37th over.

No-one dominated like that in Bradford & Bingley’s innings at Foulridge but they finished on 154-7, with Kieran Swords (25), Alex Tudge (24), Shahbaz Ahmed (20) and skipper Farhan Khalid (24) all contributing.

The Lancastrians were then rolled over for 100 in an innings that was dominated by Jabbrar Sajjad (70), with the next highest scorer being four, obtained by four batsmen.

Khalid took 6-21 and Ahmed 2-15.

The Achilles heel of Bingley Congs II’s is their lack of runs, and it was evident again at Long Lee, who made 246-8, with Wajid Mahmood (3-29), Towhid Ali (2-35) and Michael Baines (2-45) doing best with the ball.

Mahmood (44) and Dave Hemsley (23) were the leading duo in Congs’ 128 all out.

Wilsden II could only field 10 men at home to Skipton CI II, who scored 166-8 after being sent in, with Imran Khan (4-43) and Mudassar Riaz (2-37) leading the bowling.

Darren Pighills then took 6-18 as Wilsden were castled for 66.

Hepworth & Idle II had a walkover against Cowling II.

Bingley Congs III made a creditable 182-7 at home to Sutton II in Division Four after being sent in, with James Watson (43), Dan Gibson (25), Sam Higgins (23) and Andy Greenwood (24no) all chipping in.

Only two Sutton players made double figures in their total of 63, as Simon Webster (3-19), Andy Copping (3-7) and Greenwood (2-18) all cashed in.