BAXENDEN rocked leaders Read to go to the top of the Ribblesdale League, while Barnoldswick were stunned by Edenfield as the title race took a stunning turn on a soaking Saturday.

Bash now stand seven points clear after their win over Warren Eastham's men and with six games to go have moved into the position of favourites - but more twists and turns are almost certain to come.

Batting first at Back Lane Bash posted 220-7 and then restricted Read, who were beaten last Sunday in the Ramsbottom Cup final, to 173-8 to take over at the summit.

While Bash were celebrating, Barnoldswick were stunned by lowly Edenfield at Victory Park.

Greg Smithson's men posted 153-9 with Paul Gallagher hitting 53, while Barlick pro Jaffar Nazir returned figures of 7-60.

But Barlick couldn't follow the professional's lead and they were then 116-9 as they slipped to a fourth defeat of the season.

A stunning innings from late call-up Jaffer Mahmood delighted the crowd at Preston Old Road as Cherry Tree crushed Salesbury to jump up two places in the table.

Mahmood, who was only brought into the team on Saturday morning, walked to the crease with Cherry precariously poised on 97-6 - but he played a firecracker of an innings to take his side out of range.

Facing just 42 balls, Mahmood crashed five sixes and five fours on his way to a brilliant 69 with the Red Caps bowlers taking a pounding.

Mahmood took top billing with his knock, while Scott Friend also played splendidly to make 67 as Susantha Pradeep claimed five wickets and Stephen Brown three.

But Mahmood's blasting helped Cherry Tree to 214 all out and left Salesbury facing a mammoth task in the face of tight bowling.

Wickets fell regularly with Joe Rawlinson top scoring with 32 and with home skipper Andreas Sudnik claiming five wickets and running out Peter Blackman with a deflection onto the bowler's end stumps, Salesbury were 121 all out.

Kamran Younas maintained his excellent form with a half century as Whalley beat Oswaldtwistle Immanuel to keep up the pressure on the top three.

Younas made 51 and got top support from Richard Lamb (42) and Martin Davies (41) as Whalley posted 175-7 at New Lane.

Then it was over to Simon Gorton to star with the ball as he claimed 7-48 as Oswaldtwistle slipped to 94 all out.

Padiham wrecked the return to the Arbories of former professional Kashif Siddique as they beat Clitheroe in a good game.

The long-serving Siddique was not retained by Padiham for this season and moved to Clitheroe - and he had high hopes of a winning return.

But John Bushell's men have a gritty determination about them and after posting 245-4 with Callum Clarke hitting 63, Nasir Mahmood 57 not out and Max Howells 49.

That was too many for Clitheroe who were 220-7 despite Siddique making 88.

Ramsbottom Cup winners Ribblesdale Wanderers kept up their feelgood factor as they beat Earby by five wickets at Church Meadow while Great Harwood were denied instant revenge on Settle for their Friday night Twenty20 semi-final defeat as their league clash at Marshfield was washed out. Ramsbottom Cup winners Ribblesdale Wanderers kept up their feelgood factor as they beat Earby by five wickets while Great Harwood were denied instant revenge on Settle for their friday night Twenty20 semi-final defeat as their league clash at Marshfield was washed out.

RESULTS: Barnoldswick 116-9 Edenfield 153-9 Edenfield won by 37 runs; Baxenden 220-8 Read 173-8 Baxenden won by 47 runs; Cherry Tree 214 Salesbury 121 Cherry Tree won by 93 runs; Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 94 Whalley 175-7 Whalley won by 81 runs; Padiham 245-4 Clitheroe 220-7 Padiham won by 25 runs; Ribblesdale Wanderers 169-5 Earby 168-9 Ribblesdale won by five wickets; Settle v Great Harwood abandoned