THORNTON-in-Craven are on course for a double triumph in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

They defeated Hepworth & Idle II in the semi-finals and Oakworth II in the final of the Cowling Cup last Sunday, appropriately played at Cowling, and need just five more points to be crowned Division Three champions.

Hepworth & Idle elected to bat in the second semi-final but could only make a below-par 75, with 35 of those from skipper Mikey Newell.

They were dismissed an over short of the allocated 20, with Jack Laycock taking 4-12, Ian Holden 2-12 and Joe Wolfe 2-11.

Scott Howarth-Hynes scored all 11 runs in the first-wicket partnership in the reply before being dismissed, but Rob Foster (38no) and David Holt (24no) took Thornton to a comfortable victory with 5.5 overs to spare.

Oakworth were indebted to the experience of Michael Scarborough in winning the first semi-final after Barrowford II made 116-9, with opener Ulfat Ali (25) and Ghulam Nabi (30) putting on 44 for the second wicket.

Noman Hassan took 4-17 for Oakworth and Mohammad Saad 2-22.

Hassan then scored 27, but the Keighley side needed some big hitting by Scarborough, whose 39 not out came off 29 balls and included six fours and a six, to win by three wickets with a ball to spare.

In the final, Thornton sent Oakworth in, and five players made double figures, including the top three, in their 96-8, but no-one could score more than 17 (Scarborough again).

Holden (2-21), Laycock (2-12) and Wolfe (2-11) were in the wickets again, but Foster only conceded two runs in two overs.

Holt (22) and keeper Jonny Martin (24no), who was man of the match, then helped Thornton to a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.

Hassan completed a fine day by taking 2-16.