LOWERHOUSE returned to winning ways with a commanding performance against Church at Liverpool Road yesterday.

The reigning champions slipped to only their second defeat of the season at Enfield last week but bounced back in style to keep the pressure on league leaders Burnley who won at Haslingden.

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Batting first, Church professional Usman Tariq looked impressive before he fell to Paddy Martin for 40, caught by Joe Martin.

Craig Fergusson top scored with 51 while Jack Gaskill was unbeaten on 39 as Church closed on 164-5.

In reply, Lowerhouse reached their target for the loss of four wickets with professional Cobus Pienaar and Matt Walker hitting half centuries.

The pair came together with Lowerhouse wobbling on 40-3 following the departures of John Whitehead (13), Charlie Cottam (7) and Fergus Bailey (12).

But Pienaar and Walker put together what proved to be a matching-winning 99-run partnership before Pienaar was caught and bowled by Basharat for 53.

But Walker hung about, completing his half century to secure Lowerhouse’s eighth win of the season.

However, Burnley once again showed they are the team to beat after bowling Haslingden out for 91 then reaching their target without the loss of any wickets.

Chris Holt and Bharat Tripathi did the damage with the ball - claiming five wickets apiece - while Holt and Vishal Tripathi knocked off the runs in 16 overs.

Only opener Graham Knowles managed to put up any form of resistance, hitting 29 with professional Burton de Wett only managing 11 runs before he was caught by Holt off Tripathi.

Tripathi finished with figures of 5-37 off his 13 overs with Holt impressing with 5-25 off 13.2 overs.

Those exertions with the ball didn’t appear to hamper him with the bat, although he played more of a supporting role to Vishal Tripathi in Burnley’s reply.

Tripathi hit a superb unbeaten 57 with Holt completing his all-round duties with 26 not out.

Simon Newbitt fell just seven runs short of his century as Todmorden beat Colne by 161 runs.

Newbitt hit 93 before he was caught by Kaber of Lambert. Professional Bilawal Bhatti once again demonstrated his batting powers with a vital 84 while captain Andrew Sutcliffe weighed in with 47.

Bhatti, who scored a record-breaking 188 against Enfield earlier this month, then did the damage with the ball taking 5-19 as Colne were bowled out for 101 - Kenton Rhodes top scoring with 38.

Lancashire League record-breaking wicket taker Keith Roscoe was in stunning form once again as he claimed 7-23 as Rawtenstall beat Rishton.

Batting first Rawtenstall finished on 203-5 with Chris Cook Martin (62) and professional Brett Pelser (45) doing their bit with the bat.

Then it was over to ‘Kez’ who claimed seven Rishton wickets including those of top scorers Matt Nuttall (35), Brad Boddie (28) and Dobson (34).

There was an unusual outcome at Seedhill as the match between Nelson and East Lancashire was tied after both teams were bowled out for 158.

East Lancs won the toss and elected to bat but were up against it from the start after they lost three early wickets. But professional JP de Villiers stopped the rot, top scoring with 68 with Sohail (30) added to the total.

However, it was with the ball de Villiers stood out, claiming seven wickets in a dramatic finale with Dan Lord taking the last Nelson wicket to deny the home side victory.

Accrington followed up Saturday’s Worsley Cup win over Bacup - the only tie to beat the weather - with victory over Ramsbottom. Batting first, high-flying Ramsbottom finished on 157-9 with Jon Fielding scoring 53.

Accrington reached their target with eight wickets down with professional Ockert Erasmus scoring 73.

And professional Graeme van Buuren scored an unbeaten 120 as Enfield beat Bacup.