IT WAS a sad day for the Mewies Solicitors Craven League on Sunday.

Four of the six scheduled first-round matches in the Wynn Cup - the league’s blue-riband knockout competition - ended as walkovers.

None of Bradford & Bingley III, Cowling, Foulridge and Silsden could raise teams, handing walkovers respectively to Ingrow, holders Oakworth, Wilsden and Barrowford.

It probably proves that grassroots cricketers do not want to play two matches in a weekend, and will give both clubs and the league food for thought going forward as to what to do in 2023.

What cricket there was was exciting, and nowhere more so than at Haworth Road Meths, who were facing Haworth.

The latter won the toss, batted and made 157, recovering from 81-7, with Ben Bright scoring 26, Damian Rowell 34 and Jacob Hudson 22.

Andrew Maude (3-13), Rehan Ahmed (3-46) and Kris Hargreaves (4-38) took the wickets for Meths, who also made a recovery when they batted.

They were 69-5 but almost won it, only going down by three runs.

Will Burgess (32) started the reply off, and Ahmed (42) and skipper Andy Gudgeon (30) almost got them there, with Ollie Bishop (3-11), Tom Rowell (2-40) and Hudson (2-34) just giving Haworth the edge.

Ben Burkill and Toby Priestley were in the runs for a second successive day for Denholme.

They made 230-5 at Hepworth & Idle, with Burkill (86) and Priestley (128) putting on 209 for the second wicket, with Burkill hitting nine fours and a six in 108 deliveries and Priestley 15 fours and two sixes in a 111-ball stay.

Alex Robinson took 3-59 for the home side, who replied with 161-7, courtesy of Nathan Cookson (66) and Micheal Newell (31), who put on 68 for the fifth wicket.

Richard Taylor (2-21) and Tim Shires (2-18) were in the wickets.

Wynn Cup second-round draw: Bingley Congs v Haworth, Ingrow v Denholme, Oakworth v Wilsden, Barrowford v Gargrave. Matches to be played on Sunday, June 5.