GARGRAVE, who finished second last season in the Timothy Taylor’s Craven League, have started 2024 like they mean to go one better.
They lost the toss at newly-promoted Bradley, for whom Mohammad Qadeer made 21, but they collapsed from 56-1 to 92 all out as Matt Simpson (4-34) and Will Smith (3-10) got to work.
Gargrave took only 15 overs to reach their target for the loss of three wickets, with Simpson (43no) and Smith (21no) showing that they could also bat.
Cowling, who were third, racked up a good total in a run-fest at Park Field, making 287-6 after being sent in by Glusburn.
Keeper Wasim Hussain set the tone with 68 off 32 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, and he added 92 for the third wicket with Laiq Ur Rehman (47) before Vasu Goyal (84no) and Zahid Hussain (42no) put on 117 unbroken.
Goyal’s knock lasted 47 balls and included an impressive 13 fours and three sixes, whle Goyal’s runs came from 29 deliveries, containing three fours and three sixes.
Glusburn made a decent fist of their reply, scoring 243 for a match total of 530 runs, but they needed a lower-order revival from Irfan Khaliq (33) and Tamoor Munir (20) who put on 51 for the sixth wicket after they were 37-5 before No 9 Abrar Sarwar made 100 off a mere 70 balls, including 16 fours and three sixes.
He put on 73 with No 10 Umar Farooq (27) for the ninth wicket and 56 for the 10th with Danny Ridehalgh, whose contribution was a princely two, Danish Hameed doing well to return 4-52 amid the carnage.
In Division Two, Skipton CI’s match would have been a lot closer were it not for a 43-run last-wicket stand in their 161 at home to Denholme.
No 7 Muhammad Sabeel was responsible for a turnaround in the innings with a half-century, which contained four fours and four sixes, while No 10 Muddassar Khan made 35.
Denholme had six players in double figures in their reply of 147, Qamar Zulfiqar taking 3-23 as they collapsed from 64-2.
Promoted Cononley started their league campaign with an emphatic win, scoring 229 at Hepworth & Idle II after winning the toss and then rolling over their hosts for 46.
Keeper Scott Brook gave the visitors’ innings a great start by making 54 off 69 balls, including four fours, and he added 107 for the third wicket with Andrew Starkey, whose 78 came off 92 balls and contained eight fours and two sixes.
Harry Parker then took 4-16 and new signing Zabihullah Kareemi 4-18.
Silsden might be tilting at promotion and disposed of visitors Airedale, who finished third last year, by 69 runs.
Ben Sugden made 50 not out and took 3-25 for the winners, who made 187-7 after winning the toss, keeper Tom Greenwood weighing in with 23, Dom Mortimer 27 and Jack Roberts 31 not out.
Airedale were dismissed for 118, with Will Pullen (3-43) and Kieran Lawrence (3-30) also among the wickets.
The same might promotion ambition might also apply to Bowling Baptists, who made short work of hosts Sutton, whose teas were again highly commended.
Baptists made 212-8 after winning the toss, Aneesh Babu returning 4-41, and then Sutton were dismissed for 102, with only three players making double figures, led by Oliver Gledhill (29) and Dave Snowden (24).
Thornton-in-Craven made equally short work of visitors Ingrow, who were dismissed for 71 after winning the toss, Joe Wolfe ripping into their innings with 7-28 from 12 overs.
The hosts won by eight wickets in the 18th over, with Scott Howarth-Hynes 32 not out.
Wilsden II won the toss at Gargrave II in Division Three and were looking good at 79-2 before Ben Wood (3-20) and Kieran Ashley (3-18) got to work, allowing only 22 more runs.
The home side won by seven wickets in the 25th over, with opener Tom Storr seeing them home with 47 not out, keeper Dom Ferneyhough (35) helping him add 69 for the third wicket.
Silsden II, promoted from Division Four despite receiving a 40-point penalty, notched victory over the team that finished third in Division Three last year, Menston IV.
The Cobbydalers had first knock, making 132-6, which was largely down to keeper James Nelson (52no), Finlay Nixon-Snowden (21) and Seth Wiseman (22no).
Bilal Mahmood then took 3-19 as Menston were castled for 98.
Keighley III conceded to Cowling II.
Skipton CI, relegated to Division Four, began life in the bottom tier by defeating Denholme II by 42 runs.
CI, were, however, 76-8 before a wagging tail added 84, with skipper Matt Ryder (21), batting at No 9, No 10 Danyal Iqbal (41) and No 11 Sefal Allam (15no) prominent.
Iqbal then took 4-22, backed up by Jibin Jacob (2-14) and Ryder (2-21) as Denholme were back in the pavilion for 118.
Glusburn II were unlucky in that Simon Frost had to retire when he had made 37 after hitting the ball into his head,
They were chasing Bowling Baptists’ 199-7 at Scotchman Road and finished on 134.
Bradley II won a low-scoring match at Ingrow II, with the visitors indebted to Harry Andrews (46) and Chris Kimberley 921) for getting to 103.
Change bowlers Luke Watson (5-14) and Hamza Ayub (4-12) then did their stuff as the hosts were dismissed for 70.
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