ON a day when the Foster’s Lancashire League broke with tradition, two bowlers who could well be a throwback to a different generation went head-to-head and produced a spin bowling masterclass.

A few dissenting voices had been cast about the idea of playing a full programme on Bank Holiday Monday – and the cold and damp weather ensured there was no chance of huge crowds flocking through the gates – but those that stayed away from an admittedly icy and windy Alexandra Meadows missed a treat.

Home pro Ockert Erasmus and Rishton’s Daniel Salpietro are rated highly and the latter showed his class on Sunday when he bowled Ramsbottom out – and with the flick of a wrist he caused East Lancashire all manner of problems as they batted first in a game reduced to 39 overs.

Mudasser Panchbhaya (16) and Mini Bhada (24) had few problems dealing with Garth Wyse and Scott Greaves as they opened but as soon as Aussie Salpietro came on to bowl from the QEGS end he had them in trouble.

He removed those two in double-quick time and after Erasmus was given out leg before for 12, the wobble was on.

John Turner went for 27 as he tried to hit Salpietro out of the attack and when Paul Kelly was bowled by an Ali Sartaj full toss East Lancs were in trouble.

But former skipper Mark Bolton made a breezy 25 and Adam Chester was 39 not out in a 51-run stand for the seventh wicket as the home side got themselves up to a more than respectable 175-7.

Salpietro saw his figures ruined in that assault as his last four overs went for 39.

He still finished with 4-69, while Sartaj claimed 3-62 but Rishton had let a good position slop.

Bolton and Erasmus opened the bowling as Rishton replied and it was the South African who was causing all manner of problems with his flight and variation.

It was Bolton who claimed the first four wickets though on his way to 4-39 before Erasmus started to turn the screw and when he had four wickets and Rishton were 68-9, it seemed as though an early finish was on the cards.

But numbers 10 and 11 Shaun Hutchinson and Wyse wanted their bit of fun with the bat and played with a freedom missing for so long in their innings.

After they had shared a 42-run stand to take the score to 110, Erasmus bowled Wyse for a top score of 24 with the last ball of the 37th over.

He had done his job and finished with 5-39. Tradition, it seems, can still work well.

Nelson claimed the bragging rights from their derby at Burnley as they were solid in the extreme.

David Crotty (42), professional Shahzaib Hasan (35) and Rizwan Hussain (33) were the key contributors as they posted 178-8 from their 41 overs.

Qasim Ali (29) and Danny Pickup (30) made good early runs for Burnley and the Turf Moor side seemed to be on the route to victory when pro Adnan Rasool was at the crease.

But he was stumped by Russ Bradley off Richard Meade and Burnley had fallen seven runs short.

In a game reduced to 40 overs at Dill Hall Lane, Enfield were restricted to 96-9 against Todmorden with Hassan Fazal (24) and Chris Maudsley (17) the main contributors as Qaiser Abbas claimed four wickets.

Ben Sutcliffe (41 not out) and Simon Newbitt (33) ensured Todmorden dashed home.

Joey Hawke made it 10 wickets in two games as champions Lowerhouse wrapped-up a 24-point weekend thanks to a thumping win at Colne.

Only Shadley van Schalkwyk (17) and Nathan Whitehead (12) reached double figures as Colne were hustled out for 78 with Hawke claiming 4-27.

Ben Heap (29 not out) and Joe Martin (37 not out) took the House home.

Keith Roscoe tweaked and turned his way to yet another five-wicket haul for Rawtenstall but his side went down in their derby at home to Bacup.

Roscoe’s efforts helped restrict Bacup to 177-8 - but that was too many for Rawtenstall who were 154 all out.

Jonathan Fielding claimed another five-wicket haul as Ramsbottom won their derby with Haslingden.

Fielding’s efforts saw Haslingden restricted to 167-8 - and Rammy coasted home thanks to a brilliant 84 from Keith Webb and 64 not out from Tom Parton.