Thornton and Embsay gained valuable wins in Saturday’s Mewies Solicitors Craven League Divison One basement battles as they boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Thornton rattled up 252-6 at Bradley as Kevin Pollard scored 75 and Dave Scothern (71), while Chris Bowker blasted 51 off 14 balls.

Phil Binner claimed 5-86 before Bradley were dismissed for 170, with Neil Andrews making 37 and James Heseltine (34).

At Shires Lane, Embsay slipped from 76-1 to 154 all out as John Lambert took 7-47, but they hit back with Scott Robinson taking 7-58 to win by eight runs.

Bradley and Foulridge now occupy the relegation places but just three points cover the bottom four teams.

Oakworth secured the Division One title on the ground of last year’s champions Haworth.

The Bronte side were restricted to 125 by a fine piece of bowling by Michael Scarborough, who finished with 8-43.

Brannan Lawn (87no) led the successful run chase as Oaks clinched victory by six wickets.

Cullingworth moved up to second place on Sunday as they overcame Ingrow St John’s by two wickets.

On Saturday Ingrow St John’s staged a superb recovery at Cross- flatts to secure the points.

The Saints were languishing on 105-8 when Nadeem Safdar joined Deepal Dissanayate and the pair put on 168 for the ninth wicket, which helped the total to a mammoth 275-9.

Shell-shocked Flatts battled bravely to close on 177, with Amer Ayub hitting 66 as Wasim Hussain claimed 6-34.

Leaders Cowling went down to a surprise four-wicket defeat at Wilsden in Division Two.

The Keighley Road side were hustled out for a modest 138, with M Kiyani taking 5-41.

Stuart Wilson’s 72 saw Wilsden take the points.

Second-placed Riddlesden closed to within a point when they travelled to Pendle Forest and won by 103 runs.

Denholme entertained Sutton and, going first, made 214-9, with Richard Taylor scoring 48, Toby Priestley (41) and Matt Wear (32).

The Royd Hill side replied with 186 as Kane Booker made 41 and Ben Bolland (32).

Glusburn gained the local bragging rights when they beat neighbours Sutton on Sunday by five wickets.

Five players got into the twenties for the Royd Hill side as they made 163-9 in their overs, with Mark Pickles taking 6-81.

Opener James Tillotson anchored the reply with 48no.

Skipton CI are finally able to say they are the Division Four champions.

They saw off Airedale II at Bradford Road by four wickets to seal their title win.

John Stuttard, in his last game of the season, finished with a superb 9-57 off 21.3 overs to help the homesters back to the hut for 145.

Then Martin Seward hit 82 to seal victory.

Cullingworth II are second after beating Bingley Congs II by 62 runs.

Thornton II rattled up the day’s highest score 307-6 at home to Bradley II.

Tim Gates was the star of the show with a super 104, and together with Paul Ellis 38 put on 158 for the first wicket. Dan Oldfield made 76 and Mark Procter 44no.

Bradley were restricted to 158-9 in reply.

Chatburn took the Division Three title when they beat Cononley, while Sandy Lane went second with two wins.

Cononley hit 174-6, with Andrew Starkey making 78no and Willie Naylor (40), but Chatburn won by four wickets.

Sandy Lane went above Embsay after they recorded a nine-wicket victory over Wilsden II, who were bowled out for 77 with Steve Carass taking 8-34.

A day earlier, Sandy Lane had beaten Embsay II by the same margin.

Andy Grace (4-11) and Carass (4-16) had the Shires Laners back in the pavilion for 60.