BOWLING Baptist are virtually certain of some silverware in their first season in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

They only need three points from the clash at fellow-promoted side Cononley on Saturday to win Division Three.

The Scotchman Road club gained maximum points from a walkover against Bingley Congs III last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Wilsden II took another large stride towards safety by defeating third-from-bottom Haworth II by 65 runs.

Hosts Wilsden won the toss and batted, making 164, with Muddassar Riaz making 48 before Harrison (32) and Oliver Houldsworth (30) added runs at either end of the order.

The Houldsworths then got to work with the ball, with Oliver taking 4-27 and Harrison 3-23 as Haworth were dismissed for 99.

Congs III also gave a walkover to Keighley III on Sunday.

In Division One, Hepworth & Idle remain fourth after handing relegated Sutton a 12th league defeat of the season.

Opting to bat at Royd Hill, the Westfield Laners made an impressive 266-9, with opener Jamie Topham (77) starring and adding 96 for the third wicket with Jonny Thompson (41).

In reply, Sutton collapsed from 92-2 to 151.

Jonathan Robinson (3-20), Thompson (4-17) and Harry Pinkney (2-26) caused the shutter of wickets.

Almost as impressive was Eldwick & Gilstead’s win at Haworth, with the twin villages making 172 after choosing to bat, Mihir Dighe (37) and skipper Arnie Raistrick (32) leading the way.

The latter then completed a fine match with figures 3-7 as Haworth were dismissed for 114.

There was a collector’s item at Baildon Bottom, where Haworth Road Meths’ match against Denholme was abandoned due to bad light at a crucial stage.

Denholme made 142, with Goher Ayoub taking 5-31 and Mansha Khan 4-17.

Meths were 138-9 in reply when conditions closed in, with openers Deepal Dissanayake (28) and Naseeb Ali (26) in the runs alongside keeper Fahim Khan (37).

Wilsden are now safe, despite their 59-run defeat at third-placed Gargrave, who made 170, despite Ben Mitchell (3-42) and Sikander Mahmood (5-28).

Opener Chris Longley (52) then ploughed a lone furrow before being dismissed to make it 85-7, with Wilsden eventually being dismissed for 111.

In Division Two, Hepworth & Idle II hosted Long Lee and were castled for 99, with only Yousaf Iqbal (16), Phil Haigh (22) and Jack Lorriman (20) making double figures.

Long Lee didn’t find it easy either, winning by two wickets in the 37th over as Muhammad Abdullah (3-17) and David Dunne Snr (2-9) bowled fine spells.

Bradford & Bingley had the chance to use their Wagon Lane headquarters, with promotion-seeking Bradley dismissing them for 178, skipper Farhan Khalid top-scoring with 30, just ahead of Adam Swallow (26) and Shahbaz Ahmed (25).

Khalid (2-15), Irfan Ul Haque (2-41) and Sam Gokhale (2-30) then got among the wickets, but Bradley won by three wickets in the 38th over.

Bowling Baptist II, who had a free week, are certain to finish third in Division Four, while Hepworth & Idle II were in action on both Saturday and Sunday with wildly contrasting fortunes.

Hosts Bradley II made 215 on Saturday, Zach Holland doing well to take 5-53, Dan Moore bagging 2-29 before the Westfield Laners were skittled for 38, only Simon Broadbent (10) making double figures.

On Sunday, Hepworth & Idle scored 203 runs more than that for the loss of just six wickets, opener John Bogue being caught and bowled for 99, which came off just 103 balls and contained 12 fours and two sixes.

With Glen Moore (45), Bogue put on 107 for the first wicket.

Visitors Airedale II were then toppled for just 30, with Holland taking 4-14 and Finley Matthews 5-11.