COWLING, who would have won the Mewies Solicitors Craven League Division One crown if a points system had been in operation in 2021 (they actually finished third but the new system only came in last season), don’t want to leave anything to chance this time.

They top the table with 54 points after three matches, 11 ahead of Hepworth & Idle, and made it three wins out of three by defeating visitors Haworth by 42 runs.

Cowling opted to bat and scored 205-7, boosted by a third-wicket stand of 84 between Danish Hameed (93), who faced 127 balls and hit 12 fours and a six, and Daud Khan (32).

Haworth were staring down the barrel at 53-8 but reached a creditable 163-9, despite Mohammed Shah Usman taking 4-46 and Connor Brown 2-13 (off 12 overs).

Sutton, who finished third from bottom last season, are in the same place this time after losing a low-scoring encounter at Riddlesden, who were dismissed for 89, with Sachin Abraham (5-36) and Jaison Joseph (3-12) taking the lion’s share of the wickets.

However, no-one was able to match Mohammed Kamran’s 37 after tea and Sutton were castled for just 61, with only Sam Solley (17), Abraham (12) and Rob Tedder (15) making double figures.

Gargrave, who are second from bottom, were second best in another match where ball bested bat.

Haworth Road Meths took first knock at Baildon Bottom and made 129-9, Will Smith taking 4-26 and Harry McEneaney 4-24.

However, only keeper James Freebury (20) and Matt Simpson (15) troubled the scorers to any degree in the second innings as they were toppled for 80.

Division Two is looking nailed on for a promotion or promotions from clubs in the Keighley area as they currently occupy the top four spots.

Leading the way on 43 points are Silsden, despite a shock defeat at Hepworth & Idle II by 27 runs.

The Westfield Laners made 169-9 after winning the toss, with Ben Sugden taking 3-45 and Dom Mortimer 2-35.

But the Cobbydalers could only reply with 142, Tom Greenwood scoring 49 and Sugden 26.

Second-placed Airedale won a low-scoring clash by four wickets at Bradley, who, sent in, could only score 87, Matt Buckmaster leading the way with 17.

Toby Meynell (3-21) and Zain Naeem (2-12) took five of the six Airedale wickets.

Division Three champions Thornton-in-Craven suffered a batting collapse at home to fourth-placed Glusburn, who made 88 after being given first knock, Matt Lloyd again dominating with 39 as Jack Laycock took 7-32.

The club on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border were then skittled for 47, with just Rob Foster (13) and Mark Laycock (10no) making double figures as Irfan Khaliq (6-20) wreaked havoc.

Skipton CI won by three wickets against basement boys Bradford & Bingley III at Sandy Lane.

Sent in, Bingley could not cope with the outstanding Qamar Zulfiqar (6-2-6-5), backed up by Waqar Shabir (2-12) and last week’s hero Ahsan Mahmood (2-24), and were back in the pavilion for 79.

Mahmood then shone with the bat, scoring 32, Danny Smith leading CI to a three-wicket victory by scoring 25 not out.

Cononley, third last season, don’t intend to miss out on promotion again from Division Three and made it three wins from three in defeating Bingley Congs III.

Congs recovered to make 113, Ikram Daulatzai taking 3-23 and new-ball pair Tom Feather (2-8) and Harry Parker (2-16) getting among the wickets.

Congs then bowled too many bad balls, which the hosts punished to win by five wickets, led by opener Herbie Starkey (59), with Daulatzai (22no) finishing the job.,

Skipton CI II won a tight affair by eight runs at home to Cowling II.

The hosts did not cash in on winning the toss by only scoring 78, including a top score of 11, as Hassnain Ishaq (4-12), Yaser Mahmood (2-14) and Danyal Hussain (2-15) held sway.

However, that was enough as Cowling only had a best individual score of 14 as they were dismissed for 70, Tariq Ghani taking 4-9 and Matt Ryder 2-11.

There was a bizarre dismissal when slow bowler Ghani delivered what would have been a wide only for Ubaid Rauf, in trying to reach it, trod on his stumps to be dismissed hit wicket.

There were similar scores at Gargrave II, who were toppled for 64 after being sent in by Wilsden II, Chris Lambert scoring 16.

The visitors then won by three wickets, despite Will Storr (3-17) and Ben Wood (2-17), with Gargrave dropping to the bottom of the table.

Bingley Congs III appreciated being able to use their main ground of Beckfoot Lane on Sunday, rattling up 255-7 at home to Cowling II for whom Ubayd Ali took 2-22.

Ubaid Rauf then scored 23 as the 10-man visitors were dismissed for 135.

Silsden II are matching their first XI by topping a table – this time Division Four – following a seven-wicket triumph.

They lost the toss at home to Denholme II, who could only score 68, with 13-year-olds Archie Cox (4-25) and TJ Berry (2-13) among the wickets.

Runs were much more plentiful at Glusburn, where their second XI made 173-6, Akram Javed (44), Iain Beattie (32), Mohammed Imran (31) and Amir Javed (24) cashing in.

Kevin Hird then took 2-43 but Ingrow II won by five wickets.

Sutton II, seventh last season, are currently second, gaining a walkover against newcomers Menston Crompark II.