Riddlesden firing in Craven League as flying Cowling slip up

The defending champions, who thrashed visitors Glusburn, climbed one spot to sixth and are now 61 points above the second demotion berth.

And what’s more they had two century makers in Ehsan Khan (120) and keeper Tayyab Ishaq (105), who put on a mammoth 190 for the second wicket.

Facing a total of 288-7, Glusburn finished on 163, with Abrar Sarwar ending up with 56 off 73 balls, including 10 fours, to back up his 2-39.

No-one could truly cope with Omar Khatab, who took a magnificent 5-10 in 7.2 overs.

The reason the gap has grown to 25 points at the top, with Gargrave still leading, is because Cowling lost by four wickets at home to Haworth Road Meths, who replace them in second.

Cowling opted to bat and made 184, with the bulk of runs coming from opener Wasim Hussain (42) and skipper Laiq Ur Rehman (38 not out).

But Meths timed their run chase nicely, winning in the 40th over, despite Ur Rehman taking 4-53.

Bradley have climbed one place to seventh after an impressive win at home to Eldwick & Gilstead, who drop from third to fourth.

Opener Mohammad Qadeer (65) and captain Iklaq Ahmed (59) put on 101 for the second wicket, before Juni Ashraf backed up their efforts with 68 not off 49 balls in the middle order, as Bradley totalled 255-8.

E&G had a first-wicket stand of 63 but little thereafter as they were dismissed for 154, collapsing from 136-4 to Zafar Iqbal (6-29) and Akeel Rashid (3-16).

Relegation-haunted Haworth, who are now ninth on 87 points, suffered another disappointing day, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on Charlie Jackson’s part.

The 18-year-old scoring 34 of their 87 after they were sent in at home to Hepworth & Idle, and he then took 4-9, only for the Westfield Laners to scrape home by two wickets.

In Division Two, Silsden’s lead at the top is now 11 points after a convincing victory at home to Ingrow.

The Cobbydalers won the toss and opener Rob Jones (69) added 83 for the second wicket with Jack Lister (47).

Silsden totalled an impressive 255-7, despite Aaron Pearce taking 3-32, and Ingrow could not cope with the brilliant Kieran Lawrence (8-46) as they were toppled for 101.

Sutton are up two places to fourth after the ‘old firm’ of David Snowden and Sam Solley put on 116 for their first wicket at home to Denholme.

Snowden scored 60 off 88 balls and the more aggressive Solley struck 70, while under-15 Ali Hussain’s superb contribution of 66 should not be overlooked.

That allowed skipper Snowden to declare on 261-4 after 40 overs, with Usman Khakhel (3-38) the best of seven bowlers used.

Denholme, who were 80-7, were back in the pavilion for 137 as Sachin Abraham took 3-18 and Snowden 4-21.

David Snowden led from the front with bat and ball as Sutton coasted to a comfortable win over Denholme. (Image: Andy Garbutt.)

Captain Adam Taylor scored 51 off 58 balls, but only Khakhel (30) really troubled the scorers otherwise.

Airedale are one of the clubs that Sutton leapfrogged after losing by three wickets at improving Hepworth & Idle II.

Only three Airedale players made double figures after they chose to bat - captain Saqaib Javaid (32) the best of them.

Ijaz Shah (3-22) and Scott Ritchie (3-42) then made life difficult for the Westfield Laners’ second strings, but not difficult enough.

Skipton CI climbed one place to third after winning their home derby against Cononley, who did not make best use of the toss as they were back in the pavilion for 111, despite 32 from Tom Feather.

They were 74-2 but fell apart thereafter, going on to lose by seven wickets.

Long Lee had a batting hero in their No.3 Waqas Ahmed, who scored a stunning 126 off 104 balls at home to Wilsden II in Division Three.

His innings gave the impetus to the leaders’ 322-7, as he put on 117 for the fourth wicket with Ben Stowell (47).

Daniel Kernan then took 6-41 as cellar dwellers Wilsden were back in the pavilion for 127.  

Silsden II are still on course for promotion, despite losing by 49 runs at Keighley III in a match where keepers shone with the bat.

Sent in, Keighley made 162 at Marley, with gloveman Abid Hussain top-scoring with 49 as Alex Nelson took 4-33 and Keenan Wozny 3-42.

Silsden’s keeper James Nelson then scored 43, but no-one else even reached 20 in their 113, with Matt Mounsey taking 3-27, Hrithik Patel 3-16 and loanee Tahir Mehmood 3-14.

Cowling II are third on 125 points, 17 behind Silsden II, who in turn are 11 points behind leaders Long Lee.

It was a low-scoring match at Skipton Road, where Gargrave II, sent in by visitors Cowling II, were dismissed for 106, having been 73-2, as wickets clattered to Haseeb Majid (4-42) and Sajid Shafait (4-26).

Under-17 Reyan Hassan Ali then scored 45 to help Cowling to a two-wicket win, captain Shafait weighing in with 29.

Sutton II lost a thriller at Sandy Lane by four runs to Bradford & Bingley III, who made 179-8 after choosing to bat, Jaison Joseph (5-34) the main architect of a slump from 86-2.

Under-16 Charlie Whitaker then scored an excellent 50 not out off 64 balls, but his side agonisingly finished on 175-7.

Bradley II notched a solid five-wicket victory at Denholme II to extend their leadership to 12 points in Division Four.

Mohammad Imran (6-29) helped to restrict the hosts to 139-8 after they chose to have first knock, despite Hussnain Ali (54) and skipper Guy Flanagan (51no) batting well.

It took only 32.2 overs for Bradley to knock the runs off, with Luke Watson (30no) seeing them home after openers Harry Andrews scored 33.

An eighth-wicket stand of 101 helped to propel Haworth II to 225-8 after they were asked to bat by hosts Airedale II in a derby.

Steve Bell scored 55 not out off 67 deliveries, including six fours and a six, while Zachary Fyfe-Gudgeon hit 51 off 42 balls as Haworth revived from 123-7.

Thirteen-year-old newcomer Shankar Kanakath contributed a valuable 25 too, with Josh Coppack (4-36) ending up with Airedale’s best figures.

Airedale also had their own lower-order firepower, with skipper Asher Nutting (42no) and Coppack (40no) putting on 89 unbroken to help them finish on 187-7 as they lost by 38 runs.

Long Lee II proved no match for Bowling Baptists II at Scotchman Road, being dismissed for 64 after winning the toss, but even that meagre total seemed a long way off when they were 18-6.

Baptists replied with 66-5, with Ian Roberts taking 3-20.

Glusburn II, who had a free week, are third on 121 points, 26 behind second-placed Skipton CI II, who in turn are 12 adrift of Bowling Baptists II.

Unusually, all seven Ingrow II bowlers took a wicket each in their victory at home to Menston V.

The hosts won the toss and racked up an impressive 240-5, with contributions from top to bottom.

Ateeq Munir (34) and Manwar Hussain (35) added 48 for the fourth wicket, with the latter then putting on 66 in tandem with Tom Tetley (49).

That meant they racked up that imposing target, before Menston were restricted to 166-7.