JUST three years after winning the title on net run rate from Bingley Congs, it looks increasingly likely that Haworth will be relegated from Division One of the Timothy Taylor’s Craven League.
With eight matches left the Brontelanders are 43 points adrift of safety in second from bottom after suffering their seventh defeat in 10 league matches.
Visitors Cowling, who remain equal second with Eldwick & Gilstead on 132 points, even had the luxury of declaring on 241-4 after 36.4 overs against Haworth due to fears over the weather.
Danish Hameed finished on 101 not out from 97 balls and including 13 fours and three sixes, adding 113 unbroken with Daud Khan, who made an unbeaten 50.
Opener Wasim Hussain (43) also contributed, with only Haworth skipper Damian Rowell keeping the score down after conceding only 16 runs off his 10 overs, including a wicket.
Haworth were then bowled out for 147, with Rowell (29) adding 60 for the sixth wicket with Jacob Hudson (34).
Cowling’s Martyn Dalby took 5-8 from his seven overs, proving almost unplayable.
Over 500 runs were scored in the derby between Glusburn and Bradley at Park Field, with the latter scoring 250 after being sent in.
Akeel Rashid thrashed 90 off 59 balls and Zain Naeem added a quickfire 46 not out, as Abrar Sarwar (4-30) did his best to contain the innings.
It was a good job he did, as Glusburn held their nerve in a tricky chase and won by three wickets in the 39th over of a fine contest.
Opener Matt Lloyd set the tone with 91 off 100 deliveries, while No.5 Muhammad Hussnain finished the job with an unbeaten 92 from 75 balls.
Naeem, unlucky to end up on the losing side, did well to return figures of 3-59.
Defending champions Riddlesden have now lost a fourth league game this season, going down by 66 runs at Haworth Road Meths.
Moin Ahsan (3-47) and Arfan Mahmood (2-25) had the best figures in Meths’ 174-9, but Riddlesden were then 6-3 in reply before being dismissed for 108.
Keeper Tayyab Riaz scored an enterprising 48, but Riddlesden completely collapsed from 80-4 to suffer a heavy defeat.
In Division Two, Silsden have extended their lead at the top to 10 points after a maximum haul at home to Hepworth & Idle II, who were dismissed for 136 after being sent in.
Mohsan Gulbar nipped in with 3-5 off six overs and he was well backed up by Dom Mortimer (3-30).
The Hepworth & Idle total probably should have been far lower, but the last pair batted gamely to put on 51 together.
But it was still a smooth-sailing chase for Silsden, opener Joshua Waind top-scoring with 48 as the hosts won by seven wickets inside 19 overs.
Airedale defeated visitors Skipton CI by 34 runs, overtaking them in the process as they climbed to fourth.
Sent in, Airedale were indebted to keeper Alec Pue, whose 52 off 75 balls helped them reach respectability with a total of 136.
Change bowlers Scott Whittam-Ritchie (4-25) and captain Saqib Javaid (3-15) then did most of the damage as CI were restricted to 102 in reply.
Sutton are hot on CI’s heels in sixth, just one point back, after an eight-wicket triumph at Cononley.
The home side were sent in and, in a top-heavy innings, made 139, with opener Scott Brook (41) their standout batsman.
Richard Walker was outstanding with a return of 2-8 off seven overs, but Dave Snowden, the fifth man used, was the most successful bowler with 5-42.
Sam Solley then took the game away from Cononley with an unbeaten 87, as victory was achieved easily in the 28th over.
Sam Solley struck a superb 87 not out to help Sutton cruise to a win over Cononley. (Image: Phil Jackson.)
Ingrow, depleted by a stag party, were dismissed for 110 after winning the toss at home to second-placed Bowling Baptists, keeper Sayeedul Alam and Matty Courtman the joint top-scorers with 22 apiece.
That was never likely to be enough to challenge high-flying Baptists, who then won by six wickets inside 21 overs.
Denholme lost a thriller at home to Thornton-in-Craven by one wicket and remain in the drop zone, looking on course for a second successive relegation.
The hosts won the toss and were 77-4 before collapsing to 102 all out, Richard Taylor top-scoring with 23.
The visitors also had a major wobble, going from 73-3 to 78-8, but were seen home by skipper Jack Laycock (33no) to deny poor Ben Burkill (5-14).
Silsden are on for a double promotion as their second XI head Division Three by three points from Long Lee.
Finlay Nixon-Snowden was again a key figure for the Cobbydalers, taking 2-29 as hosts Cowling II were back in the pavilion for 114 before scoring 68 as they won by five wickets in the 23rd over.
Haseeb Mahid (39) was the only Cowling batsman to really give Silsden problems, as Seth Wiseman took a superb 6-15.
Long Lee made 200-7 after winning the toss at Gargrave II, Tom Butterfield (40) and Waqas Ahmad (60) putting on 80 for the second wicket.
Shahbaz Ahmed then scored 50 before taking 5-32 as the home side were back in the pavilion for 103.
Sutton II dropped to sixth after losing at home to Menston IV, who moved up to fourth after scoring 189-9 after being sent in, Charlie Whitaker taking 3-53 and Adam Edwards 2-18.
Sutton’s Laurence Powell (44) and Andrew Fountain (28) put on 56 for the third wicket but they did not take advantage of being 86-2 and were dismissed for 130.
Keighley III were on the wrong end of a shellacking against Bingley Congs III at Sandy Lane, with the hosts making 270-7 after choosing to bat.
The Lawkholme Laners, who have dropped to the bottom of the table, were then dismissed for 121, with Rob Clayton (28) and Harrison Butterfield (29) adding 44 for the fourth wicket
Bradley II are now 11 points clear in Division Four after a maximum points haul against Airedale II, who were dismissed for 51 at Matthew Lane after winning the toss.
Luke Watson proving virtually unplayable with the ball for Bradley, taking 5-7 off six overs.
Bradley took only 14.1 overs to knock the runs off for the loss of one wicket, Harry Andrews finishing on 29 not out.
Skipton CI II remain second after dismissing visitors Glusburn II for 95 after they had been 50-2.
CI were then 8-2 but they recovered to win by six wickets in the 27th over.
Haworth II were no match for Long Lee II at Golden View, being dismissed for 62 after winning the toss, as Aqib Choudhry (3-10) and Ben Stowell (3-16) got among the wickets.
Stowell then scored 44 not out as Long Lee triumphed by eight wickets inside 10 overs.
Denholme II matched their first XI in losing by one wicket - this time at Menston V.
Sent in, Denholme were indebted to Hussnain Ali (41) and Mick Henry (30) in making 133-9.
However, Menston got over the line at 135-9 in the 38th over, despite Ali taking 3-24.
Ingrow II, hampered by that aforementioned stag do like their first team, conceded
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here