OAKWORTH, who surprisingly have only won the Mewies Solicitors Cowling Cup twice in the past nine years, are overwhelming favourites this time around.

The Division Two leaders made light of visitors Haworth Road Meths' 184-7 in their quarter-final of the Craven League knockout competition after Richard Cavender had taken 4-48 and Tom Fothergill 2-23.

Ben Fothergill cracked 82 and Drew Duffy 79 not out as Oakworth won by eight wickets in just 23 overs against a team who are second in Division Three.

Crossflatts came through via a bowl-out at home to Gargrave and will host Oakworth in the semi-finals on Sunday, July 26.

Flatts made 166, of which opener Jonny Gath contributed 77, but there will be sympathy for Gargrave's Ross Freeman, who took 8-54, while skipper Will Smith's miserly eight overs cost only 11 runs.

Gargrave had made a brisk 38-0 off 4.4 overs when the heavens opened.

Hosts Denholme were outplayed by Thornton-in-Craven and the latter side will next travel to Embsay.

Embsay have been winners 12 times (including their tie with Wilsden) in the past 29 completed competitions.

Six Barrowford batsmen made it into double figures but no-one could top 19 as the hosts made 123, Stephen Speak (6-33) pegging them back from 50-2 before Neil Robinson polished off the tail with 3-13.

Embsay, who are struggling in Division Three (three places lower than Barrowford), were 45-3 in reply but a partnership of 56 between Brian Hodgson (43no) and Neville Allan (28) took them well towards the winning post in their six-wicket success, although it was achieved with only seven balls to go.