Rishton 35-4 (1pt) Rawtenstall dnb (1pt)

IF RISHTON go on and win the league, then they may well look back at this game as the one that finally sealed the title.

For victory for the league leaders against their closest rivals would have surely seen them home and dry, but a win for Rawtenstall would have brought them to within a point.

With three games to go, a win for Rishton would have put them seven points clear at the top with just nine to play for.

So naturally when they suffered an unlikely batting collapse against a Rawtenstall side hell bent on pinning the league leaders back, the predicted downpour was as if it was heaven sent.

Both sides were keen to get the top-of-the-table clash going and started the match under a steady drizzle.

And William Cook-Martin's first ball showed how difficult the conditions were going to be when his quick delivery zipped off the surface to beat Daniel Leathert who was relieved to see the ball rush past his wicket and the wicketkeeper for four runs.

Rishton have been able to rely on opening pair Leathert and Sam Hacking to pile on the runs this season. And, having both played first team cricket, their experience was sure to count in such an important game.

However, Hacking managed to get himself out off a no ball in a terrible mix-up. First Chris Cook-Martin fumbled then dropped his shot only for Hacking to find himself stranded down the wicket and the run out was inevitable.

And it got worse for Rishton in the very next ball when new batsman Chris Leathert was cleaned bowled by William Cook-Martin for a duck. Richard Rostron came to the crease and started confidently and, in the end, proved to be Rishton's only hope of a healthy knock.

However, even Rostron had no answer to the intelligent, accurate bowling of Liam Davis who finished his five over spell with four maidens, one run and the wicket of Daniel Leathert who was caught by wicket keeper Graham King.

By now Rawtenstall sensed victory and their hopes were heightened when Rostron's fruitful partnership with Richard Swanney came to a premature end when Swanney was also run out gong for a run that was never there.

However as the rain increased, Rawtenstall's hopes of a win were dampened and with 14 overs bowled both sides returned to their dressings room never to re-emerge.

So Rishton keep their four point lead at the top of the table while Rawtenstall can only reflect on a vital win that was extinguished by the rain.

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