Lowly Haworth humbled by Riddlesden in Craven League

They were trounced by Riddlesden in their derby at West Lane and are now 35 points from safety at the halfway stage of the season.

Sent in, Riddlesden made a whopping 306, including a sensational 112 off 55 balls from No.7 Saquib Hussain.

It was some recovery from Riddlesden after being 62-3, as Arfan Mahmood (38) and Aqeeb Khan (47) made valuable contributions in the middle order before Hussain’s assault on the Haworth attack, in which Damian Rowell (4-70) and James Roper (3-54) did their best to limit the damage.

After tea, 18-year-old Charlie Jackson (24) was the best of three Haworth players in double figures as they were dismissed for a paltry 80 in 25.4 overs, with Ayan Ahsan taking 5-20.

Haworth remain ninth on 50 points, but Riddlesden climb one spot to sixth on 95 points.

Gargrave’s first defeat of the season has trimmed their lead to eight points, with both their conquerors Eldwick & Gilstead and Cowling second and third on 112 points.  

Cowling, who are only behind E&G on net run rate, beat Jonny Thompson-inspired visitors Hepworth & Idle by 15 runs.

Martyn Dalby and Danish Hameed both scored 29 for Cowling after they chose to bat, with keeper Abid Sharif (49) putting on 49 for the third wicket with Hameed in their 146.

The Westfield Laners only had three players in double figures compared to Cowling’s six, but Thompson scored 52 to back up his 5-36, yet finished on the losing side as Hameed also completed a fine all-round day with 4-29.

Bradley have dropped one spot to seventh on the back of a 24-run defeat at home to Haworth Road Meths, who made 201-5 after winning the toss.

Bradley were 99-6 in reply, but did well to reach 177 after opener and keeper Dave Hunt made 40, Juni Ashraf scoring 52 at No.5.

Glusburn are now just five points further back in eighth after thrashing visitors Wilsden, who were dismissed for 48 in 19.1 overs, Irfan Khaliq taking 7-27 in 10 overs.

The hosts knocked the runs off for the loss of one wicket in just 9.5 overs for a maximum points haul against the bottom club.

Silsden seem likely to replace either Wilsden or Haworth in the top flight as they are in a two-horse race for the Division Two title with Bowling Baptists.

The Cobbydalers went to the top of the table by a single point after getting 20 points in defeating third-placed visitors Skipton CI.

Sent in, Silsden racked up an impressive 257-7, with Cameron Knowles making an unbeaten 118 in the middle order, his runs coming off 114 deliveries.

He added 68 unbroken with No.9 Bilal Mahmood (36no).

No-one broke 30 in CI’s reply of 150 as Knowles took 3-55 and Mohsan Gulbhar claimed 3-32.

Thornton in Craven dropped one place to fifth after their batting let them down at Cononley, being back in the pavilion for 127 after being sent in, with captain Harry Parker (4-32) dismissing the first four batters as the Booth Bridge Laners were 4-4.

Harry Parker and his Cononley side won the Cowling Cup last season, and he helped them climb the Division Two table on Saturday. (Image: UGC.)

Scott Brook (38) and Nathan Parker (30) then added 54 for Cononley’s fourth wicket in the reply, but they only won by two wickets in the 44th over to climb two places to seventh.

Sutton dropped to eighth after failing to overhaul hosts Airedale’s 172-9, despite Sachin Abraham taking 5-29, with Raja Mohammad Adnan (46) top scoring.

The visitors were then back in the pavilion for 146, collapsing from 98-3, keeper Oliver Gledhill top-scoring with 34 as Ijaz Shah bagged 4-21, allowing Airedale to climb from seventh to fourth.

Ingrow dropped a place to sixth as hosts Hepworth & Idle II won their first game of the season.

Asked to bat, Ingrow made 190, John Allott giving the innings a late boost by scoring 53 off 42 deliveries, including six fours and three sixes.

All that was to no avail, however, as the Westfield Laners replied with 192-7, having been 20-5 and 52-6, with Aaron Pearce taking 3-36.

Denholme’s home game with leaders Bowling Baptists was a rain-affected draw, giving both sides five points each, although the hosts were well behind the eight-ball when the time limit expired.

Baptists made 294-7 after winning the toss, Usman Khakhel taking 4-56, and the latter then scored 20 not out, with Richard Taylor making 21, as Denholme were 83-7 when the 7.30pm deadline was reached.

Silsden II are matching their first XI by being front-runners - this time in Division Three.

They were facing Bingley Congs III at Sandy Lane, and Finlay Nixon-Snowden was again an all-round star for the winners.

He took 4-46 as Congs were dismissed for 145, and then scored 37 as Silsden won by four wickets.

Backing him up was 14-year-old TJ Berry (3-35), before captain and keeper James Nelson (41) helped him out in the reply, as the Cobbydalers took advantage of Cowling II’s defeat to go top.

It was only the Keighley Road club’s second defeat of the season, but it dropped them two places to third as their opponents Long Lee also leapfrogged them.

Sent in, Cowling made a decent start, Reyan Hassan Ali (25) being the top scorer as the top three all reached double figures, but they fell away and were dismissed for a disappointing 105 as Qasim Tarin took 3-20.

Long Lee knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket inside 23 overs, Tom Butterfield finishing on 47 not out and Waqas Ahmed 51 not out.

Sutton II also found run-making difficult at home to Keighley III, who made 151-8 after losing the toss,

Eighteen-year-old duo Greg Riddiough (3-24) and Laurence Powell (2-10) were the best of seven bowlers used, as opener Nadeem Khaliq batted through the innings for an unbeaten 42.

Despite 54 from captain Craig Thornton, who dropped into the middle order due to injury and hit six fours and two sixes in a 57-ball stay, fifth-placed Sutton had only two other players into double figures as they were rolled over for 107.

Rahim Hussain took 4-33 while Sohail Shah managed 2-15 from 10 overs as Keighley climbed one place to ninth.

Bradley II still head Division Four on 120 points, despite having a free week, but Glusburn II are now only one point behind, albeit having played a game more.

Sent in by visitors Menston V, Glusburn made 158-9, with the top four all getting starts, headed by Umar Dar (45).

In reply, Menston were castled for just 68 by Steve Poole (4-15) and Rafaqat Hussain (3-9).

Skipton CI II are also in the title mix after an equally comprehensive win at home to Haworth II.

CI were asked to bat but collapsed from 85-1 to 123-7 before a revival took them to 170-9, with 13-year-old Max Wareing (3-23) and Steve Bell (3-24) the star men with the ball.

The Brontelanders were then dismissed for a dreadful 57, with opener Mick Cryer (11) and No.10 Samuel Jeffrey (10) the only players to make double figures.

Airedale II, who are fourth, lost by 59 runs at Bowling Baptists II, who made 157 after being asked to bat, Asher Nutting bagging 4-51.

Chris Gill then top-scored after tea with 43 as one of four players to make double figures as Airedale were castled for 98.

Denholme II were unlucky as they were timed out when within reach of victory at Ingrow II, who made 232-8 after winning the toss, with Daniel Fazackerley starring with a stunning 115 not out off 90 balls, Ishaq Ali taking 4-17.

The visitors were so close to winning, as they were 218-4 in reply with five overs left when time ran out, with opener Hussnain Ali on 163 not out off 122 deliveries, Adam Millward having taken 3-47.

Long Lee II won a low-scoring affair by 37 runs at Hepworth & Idle III, despite being dismissed for 58, opener Ben Pennington (27) helping them to 31-0 before a complete collapse.

However, the third strings were then skittled for 21 in 13.5 overs, with six players making ducks as Jack McGrogan took 4-13 and the outstanding Aqib Choudhry managed 6-5 off 6.5 overs.