RAIN played a big part in Division One of the Mewies Solicitors Craven League at the weekend as only one match reached a conclusion in the top flight.

That game was at Sutton, where Riddlesden were the visitors.

Mohammad Shahnawaz announced the Grange Road side’s intentions when he walloped the first ball of the game for six!

He went on to make 53 to go with Zahir Abbas’s 36 as the total reached 205, Sam Solley being the most successful bowler with 4-27.

Abbas then turned destroyer in chief as he claimed 8-17 to help skittle the Royd Hill side for just 57 in 20 overs, second-teamer Simon Todd making 32.

Leaders Bingley Congs were at Haworth Road Meths and posted 173-7, with Danny Pearson making 52 and Matt Roberts 33 as Muhammad Zahid took 4-42.

Several rain breaks meant the game was an 8pm timed finish, and Haworth Road closed on 111-5 to claim a draw as Will Burgess top-scored with 23 and Harry Greenhalgh claimed 3-39.

Second-placed Crossflatts were thwarted by the weather at Haworth but third-placed Embsay saw action at next-to-bottom Cowling, reducing the hosts to 54-5.

Then Mohammad Shah Usman, whose 91 included six fours and seven sixes, and Banaras Hussain, whose unbeaten 67 contained four fours and seven sixes, revived The Coliseum side so much that they finished on a healthy 214-8.

Embsay strained every sinew to reach that target, and their innings was intriguingly poised at 204-9 with 20 balls left when heavy rain curtailed play.

Sam Arkwright scored 52, Phil Binner 49 and Scott Robinson 33 not out as Hussain took 4-55 and Usman 3-31.

Matt Wear and Toby Priestley, who both made 65, helped Denholme to 214-9, where they declared after 36 overs, with Gareth Marshall having taken 4-42.

Oakworth’s reply was hurtling along at 88-0 after only 13 overs when play was halted, with Marshall on 53 not out (seven fours, three sixes) and Joel Gallagher 28 not out.

Immy Zaman (50) and Nadeem Safdar (35) were the stars of Ingrow St John’s 186-9 at Foulridge.

The Noyna side were 122-5 after just 13.3 overs, Irfan Khaliq making 38 and Muhammad Attique 40 not out when time was called.