THERE were a number of close finishes in the Mewies Solicitors Craven & District Cricket League this week – but none more so than Sutton’s one-wicket win over Barrowford which propelled them to the top of Division One.

Sutton won the toss, asking Barrowford to bat first, and the Bull Holme side made 169 with Freddie Bailey (46) and Aziz Iqbal (36) leading the way with Ryan Ridehalgh (4-6) and Chris Walker (3-27) the pick of the bowlers.

The Royd Hill side were staring defeat in the face at 138-9 before skipper Craig Thornton (31no) and James McDonald (4no) took them to the line. Earlier David Snowden had made 46.

Three points behind are Ingrow St John's who went down by two wickets at Crossflatts.

The Saints posted 187 with Omar Khatab (91) top scoring as Scott Kershaw took 4-60. Harris Hussain (63) led the way to the Rhysworth Park side’s total of 188-8.

In third place are Embsay, who faced a barrage of runs at Denholme.

The home team plundered 271-7 with Matt Wear (74) and Joe Greenwood (68no) being the stars. The Shires Lane side had several batters get a start and then get out and they closed on 208-9. Ben Keane made 31no and Sam Keane (30) as Jack Harrison took 4-64 and Toby Priestley 3-42.

In their last four innings Denholme have scored 997 runs for the loss of only 21 wickets.

There was another close finish at Haworth Road. The Baildon Bottom side went first and built on a first wicket partnership of 120 between Mohammad Zahid (84) and Will Burgess (31) to post 180-8.

Visitors Bingley Congs had Andy Blackburn (50no) and Matt Roberts (10no) to thank for an eighth-wicket partnership of 45 which saw them to victory by three wickets with just two balls to spare.

Damian Rowell (52) guided Haworth to 144 at West Lane as Mark Harland took 4-10 and Don Wooller 3-43. Hepworth and Idle could only manage 122 in reply with Dave Matthews scoring 42 as Damian Rowell claimed 5-49.

The top of Division Two is getting very tight with three points covering five teams. Leading the way are Haworth Road II who beat Sandy Lane.

A point behind come last week’s leaders Ingrow who came a cropper at home to Wilsden.

The Windy Grove side plundered 248, with Adil Mehmood (67) and Raja Ali (79) in the runs, and Dan Scott (4-60) being the best bowler.

In the Hainworth side's reply of 98, No 8 Keann Shaw made 55 which rescued them somewhat from 18-6 – Sam Mitchell (4-14) and Harrison Holdsworth (4-18) being the demon bowlers. This win moves the visitors into third place.

Fourth are Chatburn who played in a remarkable game at Ingrow St John’s II.

The Saints made 143 on the back of 57no from Sarum Qureshi with Zak Green (5-36) grabbing a hat-trick and Andy Booth taking 3-20.

Not to be outdone, Ikhkaq Ahmed took 4-4 in his 5-25. However, it was to no avail as the Ribble Valley side got home by two wickets, which sees St John’s II drop to fifth.

Chris Gill (41no) helped Airedale to 120 on their visit to Glusburn as Mark Pickles took 4-30. The Park Field side galloped home by eight wickets with Steve Brown (41) and James Tillotson (38) doing the bulk of the scoring.

Foulridge rattled up 194 on their visit to the Coliseum with Muhammad Atique (76) leading the way as Aftab Khan took 5-50. In Cowling's reply of 177-9, Sajid Shafait (67no) top scored as Shahbaz Munir took 4-29.

Oakworth II remain anchored to the bottom of the division after going down by nine wickets at Long Lee.

The Cure Hill side were dismissed for a modest 38 with only Lucas Keslinke (10) reaching double figures, Steve Butterfield (6-21) and Shahbaz Ahmed (4-12) shining with the ball. The Golden View side strolled to the points in 11.3 overs.