WITH an increasing number of matches being conceded due to Covid-19 in the Mewies Solicitors Craven League, this is continuing to be an extraordinary cricket season.

However, something happened at Gargrave on Saturday that was almost reassuring and certainly not unique to any campaign - a batting collapse.

Skipton CI, needing 155 for victory in their Covid Regional Competition Group E match, were 62-4 but lost their last six wickets for just 14 runs to go down by 78 runs.

CI's Martin Seward (21), keeper Ian Henderson and skipper Luke Cater, who both scored 15, had put the match in the balance before that shutter of wickets.

Gargrave captain Will Smith took 4-12 and was backed up by George Beckwith (2-7) and Ben Howlett (2-18).

Earlier Gargrave were indebted to John Beckwith (49), Smith and Lee Barrett, who each made 25, in their 154, with openers Smith and Tom Goodwin (18) adding 48 and Barrett and John Beckwith putting on 53 for the third wicket.

Danyal Ahmed proved a thorn in their side with 5-48, with Rob Cockell taking 2-42.

Another collapse occurred at Cononley in the same group, where the hosts went from 61-1 to 90 all out, a downturn that was precipitated by swing bowler Michael Scarborough (6-11) and leg-spinner Jack Davison (3-12) for Oakworth II.

Opener Scott Brook (31) and No 3 Nathan Parker (22) did the best for the home side with the bat, but they needn't have worried that their total was too small as their second-string visitors were rolled over for just 56.

Lucas Keslinke (16) and Davison (15) were the only two to make double figures as Anthony Haigh (3-10), Tom Feather (3-18), Harry Parker (2-6) and Lewie Fitton (2-21) proved a potent quartet.

Runs were easier to come by in Group F at Glusburn, where the home side made 184-4 against Sutton.

Keeper Pete Schofield (52) and opener and skipper Matt Lloyd (43) led the way, backed up by Steve Brown (30) and Martyn Dalby (40no), who was on loan from Cowling.

Sutton were struggling to reach three figures in their reply when they were 80-8 but No 8 Richard Walker (27no) helped them to 122, aided by the earlier efforts of opener Tony Walton (32) and, in the middle order, Alistair Wallace (18).

Four bowlers did the main damage - Mark Desgranges (3-23), Mark Pickles (2-22), Brown (2-23) and Iain Beattie (2-37).

The in-form Caspar Bean might be wishing the season is not drawing to a close as the Embsay II opener made 67 at home to Bradley II in Group G.

He found allies in Tom Bailey (26) and Sam Arkwright (21) as the hosts totalled 129-6, with under-16 Toby Meynell (2-17) again doing well with the ball, Donnacha Washington returning the same figures.

Bradley II, who fielded eight juniors, were then dismissed for 56, half of which were scored by the elder Meynell, whose younger brother Henry was unable to bat due to injury.

Arkwright (3-23) and Hammaad Hussain (2-16) were the main wicket-takers.

Gargrave II used eight bowlers at Sandylands in the same group, dismissing Skipton CI II for 101 off the penultimate ball of the 35th over.

That looked an unlikely score, however, when the hosts were 30-6 but the innings was pulled round by No 7 Tom Carlisle (43) and No 8 Matt Ryder (15), who added 51.

Tony Spensley (2-6), Maurice Oldfield (2-11) and Will Storr (2-12) returned good figures for Gargrave II, who won by three wickets in the 31st over.

Adam Carroll's 42 was the key contribution at No 4 after opener Oldfield had made 20.

Vaqas Nawaz (2-17) and Sefal Allam (2-23) had success for CI.