THE Mewies Craven League limped into the new season with just over half the matches abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Play was possible in only one of the six scheduled matches in Division One.

Barrowford stormed to a fine seven-wicket victory down at Crossflatts to leave the home side still on minus nine points.

Crossflatts batted first and were dismissed for 85 with ex-Ingrow St John’s skipper, Wasim Hussain, top scoring with 24 as Adnan Khalid claimed 5-20 and Karum Khan 3-21. Ashir Imdad (48 not out) led Barrowford to the spoils.

In Division Two, last season’s champions Haworth Road II slumped to a seven-wicket defeat at home to Eldwick & Gilstead.

Haworth were dismissed for 79 with Adam Cook making 20 and Safraz Mahmood 20 as Jack Dixon claimed 4-8 and Andy Stephenson 3-17. Tom Conneely (41) helped to visitors to the winning post.

At Cononley, Cowling’s skipper Martyn Dalby clattered 10 sixes and five fours in a belligerent knock of 87.

With Charlie Hassan and 18-year-old Aussie recruit William Bowden scoring 44 and 37 respectively the innings closed on 237.

Cameron Knowles bowled well to finish with 4-38 off his 12 overs and Scott Brook chipped in with 3-56. For Cowling, Charles Calvert made 50 and Tom Feather 30no as Dalby took 3-24 and A Khan 3-9.

At Gargrave, visitors Long Lee made 146 thanks mainly to Richard Ayrton (47) and Shabaz Ahmed (30) as Tom Storr (3-17) was the best bowler.

Gargrave went down by 22 runs with John Beckwith (30) top scoring as Ahmed (4-22) and Ian Roberts (3-19) were the best bowlers.

Only the Riddlesden v Haworth II game failed to start in Division Three.

Oakworth’s Michael Scarborough has dropped down to captain the second team this year and quickly showed his calibre as he hit nine sixes and three fours in a knock of 90 which saw his side to 238-6. Then a couple of his young guns, Ellis Marshall (3-7) and Uwais Ali Khan (3-11), helped by Jack Davison (3-35) had Hepworth & Idle II back in the hut for 113, of which Garfield Allen made 39.

Ian Henderson (80) and Martin Chisnall (40) put on 97 for the second wicket for Skipton CI down at Sandylands as their side posted 200-5 in their overs, with Stephen Wood chipping in with 36. Visitors Bradley could only muster 72 in reply as Sam Smith (6-18) and Sefal Allam (4-47) did all the damage.

Newly-promoted Sutton II were shot out for a paltry 23 at Bingley Congs II. Mark Hughes top scored with 10 as Michael Baines (3-4), Josh Zenner (3-5) and Steve Broughton (3-8) took the bowling honours. In reply, the Beckfoot Lane side romped home by 10 wickets.

Ten-man Thornton staggered to 111-9 at home to Crossflatts II. Dan Oldfield scored 22 as the wickets were shared. The Rhysworth Park side then crumpled to 87 all out. Bryan Freimanis made 23 as Stephen Laycock took 5-15 and Oldfield 4-22.

At Bull Holme, Embsay made 142-5 with Dominic Kay hitting 89no. Then in a dream start for his new club, ex-Bradley man Casper Bean had 3-0 at the end of the first innings for them, which included the hat-trick. He finished with 4-13 to go with Kay’s 4-24 as the innings closed on 94.

Glusburn II got their season off to a good start as they accounted for Skipton CI II by three wickets in Division Four.

David Suter (54) helped the visitors post 115-9 as Azhar Iqbal took 4-19 and Mohammed Khan 3-35. Paul McCullough (40no) and Brett Parkin (20no) rescued their side with an unbroken stand of 59 for the eighth wicket.

Division 4B champions, Silsden, were in fine pomp away to Bradley II. The restricted the Matthew Lane side to 63-9. They then lost three wickets reaching their target.

Cononley II were unable to raise a side against Chatburn II.