DIVISION One leaders Cowling passed their ‘squeaky bum’ test in getting a one-wicket victory at Denholme in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League.

The hosts chose to bat but only made 115, despite an opening stand of 54, as Connor Brown (4-30) and Danish Hameed (5-37) got to work.

However, Cowling also found things difficult and only five players made double figures, including top-scorer Laiq Ur Rehman (27).

They were staring defeat in the face at 104-9 but Ben Davy (9no) and Brown (5no) saw Cowling home.

Gargrave opted to bowl at home to Hepworth & Idle, and it proved a wise choice as the visitors were dismissed for 109, with Ben Howlett taking 3-19 and Will Smith 4-35.

The hosts then relied on keeper James Freebury (36) and Dom Kay (33no) to help them to a five-wicket win inside 23 overs as fourth-placed Gargrave put pressure on the teams above them.

Sutton adopted the same tactics at home to Wilsden, and again bowling first worked.

Sachin Abraham (3-17), Jibin Jacob (2-28) and Ben Middleton (2-10) helped to restrict Wilsden to 106-7, and Sutton knocked the runs off inside 17 overs to win by seven wickets.

David Snowden (24) set them on their way with Sam Solley (47no), who was there at the end as the gap between second-from-bottom Sutton and Wilsden narrowed to six points.

Winning the toss and fielding also paid dividends for leaders Glusburn and Thornton-in-Craven in Division Two.

Irfan Khaliq (5-23) and Steve Brown (4-37) were among the wickets as visitors Long Lee were dismissed for 153, and Glusburn skipper Brown then starred with the bat as they won with three down.

He scored 86 off just 65 deliveries, hitting eight fours and six sixes, adding 72 for the second wicket with opener Matt Lloyd (28) and 79 for the third with keeper Pete Schofield (33no) as the target was passed in the 22nd over.

Ingrow took the opportunity to declare when the rains came at 151-5 halfway through the 33rd over, with Ian Holden taking 3-72.

However, visitors Thornton-in-Craven were in no mood to mess around and won by six wickets in 22 overs, with openers Scott Howarth-Hynes (42) and Rob Cockell (33) putting on 73 and David Holt (31no) and Mark Laycock (28no) adding 49 unbroken.

Bradley, sent in at home to Silsden, reversed the trend with a 13-run victory, with Matt Buckmaster’s 71 being the dominant innings of the match.

It lasted for only 67 balls and contained nine fours and two sixes, and he added 87 for the second wicket with keeper Juni Ashraf (33) in their 188-9.

Silsden, in relegation trouble after their 40-point deduction for the behaviour of their players and spectators earlier in the season, made 175 in reply, tailing off from 148-5 with two run outs and Zafar Iqbal’s 2-7.

Ahsan Rizwan (4-37 and (29) had a fine match for the Cobbydalers, adding 53 for the sixth wicket with Mohsan Gulbhar (31) after Dom Mortimer had made 37 up the order.

Skipton CI’s match at Hepworth & Idle was rained off without a ball being bowled.

In Division Three, leaders Cononley profited by a concession from cellar dwellers Wilsden II, but Gargrave II collected 19 points from a possible 20 with a narrow victory at Haworth II.

The latter made 183-8, which was some recovery from 38-5, No 8 David Robinson hitting an unbeaten 101 after Ben Wood (3-22) and Dieter Kayley (2-28) had caused early problems.

However, Gargrave had their own batting star in Dominic Ferneyhough, whose 73 not out off 72 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six, was equally crucial.

Captain Neil Plummer (22) and Edward Stanley (20) had set the visitors on their way with a stand of 42 before Richard Bell (35) helped Plummer add 47 for the third wicket, victory being achieved in the 37th over, with Giles Winterton (15no) Ferneyhough’s partner.

Gargrave II are fourth, and one place below them are Cowling II, who won a decent match against Menston Crompark by 41 runs.

Cowling, who won the toss, had two half-century stands in their 197-8 – 58 for the second wicket between Reyan Hassan Ali (22) and keeper Junaid Majid (38) and 55 for the seventh between Mohammed Abdullah Iqbal (46) and Naeem Ishaq (32).

Crompark were looking good for the win at 114-2 but then lapsed to 141-4, 151-5 and 156 all out, with Haseeb Majid taking 3-41 and Imran Kamal 5-25.

Third-from-bottom Skipton CI II had opener Jonathan Sharpe in fine form at home to Bingley Congs III in their 161-5, but the visitors still won by six wickets to remain third.

Sutton II stretched their lead over Bowling Baptist II in Division Four as the latter’s game at home to Glusburn II could not beat the weather.

Silsden II were inserted at home to Sutton and made 134-6, with Hugh Sugden again leading the way with 66 not out, adding 47 unbroken with Dan Jones (10no).

Jack Middleton bagged 3-33, and it was then over to Sutton’s skipper Craig Thornton, whose 84 not out took them to a five-wicket victory in 37 overs.

Thornton his 13 fours and a six and added 77 for the third wicket with Ali Hussain (26).

Bradley II only had nine men at Menston Crompark II, so credit to the visitors for getting the game played, and they came close to victory too.

Crompark, sent in, made 190-8 declared, with Amer Khan taking 3-39.

Bradley replied with 166, with captain Harry Andrews (31), Awais Azeem (46), Jumar Ali (23), Charlie Andrews (24) and Matthew Speak (27no) all getting starts.