Oxenhope throw win away as Oakworth continue title hunt

But the Keighley District side threw the game away in truth, making costly mistakes with the bat, ball and in the field.

The hosts opted to bat and only posted 136, Alex Baker topping the scoring with 42.

However, the dressing-room tea interval inquest must have been on how on earth they managed to suffer four run outs, including that of Baker, who was involved in all of them.

A second inquest followed as they let Thornton off the hook at the close, after reducing them to 114-9.

The Thornton reply started badly as Grant Soames was caught off the first ball of the innings and their race looked run when they were left needing 23 to win with just one wicket in hand.

But the key moment came when Nikki Hutchinson (29 not out) was dropped after scoring just six, and it was he and No.11 Dominic Anderson (5no), who saw them over the line.

It was an agonising afternoon for Liam Witney, who took fine figures of 4-40 but still ended up on the losing side.

In the Second Division, the top two both won and it now looks like a straight battle between leaders Sowerby St Peter’s and Oakworth for the title.

The latter travelled to third-placed Stones and produced an impressive performance to win by 73 runs.

Oakworth scored a challenging 257-8 as both Noah Thirkill (89) and Bradley Powell (88) lost their wickets in sight of hundreds.

Five Stones batters made starts, but none really progressed and the innings fizzled out at 184.

Meanwhile, Cullingworth’s long trip to Leymoor brought an easy seven-wicket win.

Elliot Robinson was on song for the visitors, taking 5-38 as the home batsmen struggled.

Leymoor only made 94, and Charlie Smith (42no) led the way in the reply, as Cullingworth wrapped up victory after just 22 overs.

The win means they are still in with a real chance of going up, as they sit just seven points behind Old Town, who currently occupy the third and final promotion spot.