PROLIFIC Colne professional Ben Higgins was first past the post in pursuit of 1,000 runs, but Bacup took the team honours and a grip on the title race thanks to another outstanding contribution from their own paid-man at Lanehead on Saturday.

Shaun Young posted his fifth century of the summer to lead the defending champions to a seven-wicket win to dint Colne's own title aspirations.

Young and 19-year-old Tim Farragher compiled an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 114 to ease Bacup home with two overs to spare after two quick wickets had given Colne a glimmer of hope.

"Considering the stage of the season and where both teams were, that was quite a big win for us," said Young.

"It put us clear at the top and that's where we want to be, with the other teams chasing us."

Thirty more runs might have made it an interesting finish, but Colne did well to get beyond 200 after losing their first two wickets with just three on the board and then stuttering to 38-4.

Inevitably it was Higgins who led the revival, initially with help from captain Gary Laycock, but then when he went for 74 it took an excellent effort from David Swarbrick to maximise the closing overs.

Swarbrick struck 49 off just 46 balls with a six and five fours before being run out going for his half-century off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Higgins had looked odds-on for his fifth century of a remarkable season, having passed the 1,000 run-mark when he cut Terry Lord to the backward point boundary to move to 27.

The elegant left-hander, who could yet break the daunting league record of 1,718 set by former Colne professional and fellow South Australian Ben Johnson, added 70 with Laycock and then 29 with Swarbrick before mis-cuing a lofted drive off Neal Wilkinson to be held by Peter Thompson running in at long-off with the score on 137.

Higgins, who hit 11 fours and a six, was disappointed to miss out on a third ton in four innings after appearing to have done all the hard work but almost his first loose shot was a rare lapse in a run-laden campaign.

"It's been a great effort and all credit to him. He's laid the foundations for a great season and if he keeps producing, all the best to him," said Young, who was glad to see the back of his opposite number.

"He was batting well and it was a crucial period of the game when we got him out. If we hadn't got him then we might have had a bit more of a target to chase."

Instead, Bacup's only cause for concern came when Dominic Ayres and Matt O'Connor went with the score on 93 at the half-way stage of the innings.

"We just needed to get our heads down then and knock around the ones and twos and let the fours look after themselves. We weren't after seven or eight an over and we got there quite comfortably in the end," Young added.

The Tasmanian found the perfect ally in Farragher, who showed admirable shot selection in hitting six fours to finish just five short of his first ever league half-century.

Young believes the teenager has a bright future and the pair were rarely troubled against a Colne attack lacking Jeff Ellis and which also lost Laycock with a shoulder injury late on as he fell awkwardly in the field.

Young, chasing 1,000 runs for the second time in his three years at Bacup, duly reached three figures off 135 balls with 15 fours and a six.

While he was at the crease the outcome was never in doubt and if he maintains this form, and his fitness, then a fourth successive title success may also fall into place.

"It was up there with one of my best knocks this year. I'm seeing the ball quite well," he said.

BACUP 207-3 COLNE 206-9

Bacup 10 pts, Colne 0 pts

COLNE

M Wilson b Ormerod...3

Higgins c Thompson b Wilkinson...74

G Hunt c Wilkinson b Ormerod...0

S Woods c O'Connor b Young...3

P Wilson c and b Ormerod...14

G Laycock c Lord b Wilkinson...30

D Swarbrick run out...49

A Roberts c Gallagher b Ormerod...7

J Lambert c Farragher b Young...10

N Rimmer not out...4

M Constable not out...0

Extras...12

Total (9wkts)...206

Bowling: Young 15-3-50-2; D Ormerod 25-4-94-4; T Lord 5-1-25-0; N Wilkinson 5-0-30-2.

BACUP

P Thompson c Woods b Higgins...9

D Ayres c Woods b Roberts...39

Young not out...104

M O'Connor c Woods b Hunt...0

T Farragher not out...45

Extras...10

Total (3wkts)...207

Bowling: Higgins 13-1-60-1; J Lambert 6-1-16-0; G Laycock 4-0-28-0; A Roberts 11-2-38-1; G Hunt 8-4-22-1; M Constable 3-0-21-0; S Woods 3-0-21-0.