CLASS act Kiwi Harry Boam starred for Haslingden with both bat and ball as his men made it a perfect Foster’s Lancashire League weekend to finally get their season up and running.

After beating Burnley on Saturday, Boam and company thrashed East Lancashire at Alexandra Meadows yesterday after totally dominating proceedings from the start.

East Lancs were reduced to 10-3 after being put in as Mudassar Panchbhaya was run out, John Turner got an absolute jaffa from Boam and Mini Bhada was caught at extra cover off a full-ish Lewis McIntosh delivery.

And when David Pearson went for five the Blackburn side were seriously in trouble at 31-4.

But pro Ockert Erasmus and Paul Kelly set about repairing the damage as they batted a testing surface and top bowling with patence and sence.

Erasmus reached his 50 in 125 balls but after scoring 57 he was caught off Matt Griffin and it was 99-5.

The South African batted superbly for 138 minutes and hit six fours and one six – and while he wanted to up the scoring rate, he needed to stay at the crease.

Kelly went for 20 after 93 minutes of concentration and they were the only men to make double figures as East Lancs collapsed to 123 all out with 22 balls remaining.

Boam bowled with aggression for his two wickets and McIntosh also claimed a pair, while Gary Sudworth tweaked his way to 3-42.

It seemed a score that would make for an interesting chase as Graham Knowles and Sam Kershaw set about the reply but Knowles was in little trouble as Haslingden reached 28.

Kershaw was then caught behind off Erasmus for two – but any hopes of more success were shattered by Boam and Knowles.

They played the East Lancs bowlers with ease and Boam overtook his skipper on his way to a hugely impressive 63 not out with Knowles stranded on 49 not out when Haslingden crossed the winning line with 21.4 overs to go.

That double was a big boost for Haslingden – but it is reigning champions Lowerhouse who are out in front of the chasing pack.

They made it 18 home wins on the trot in the league with a crushing success over Nelson at Liverpool Road.

Ben Heap (54), Johnny Martin (60) and pro Francois Haasbroek (67) piled on the runs as they posted 232-5 from their 50 overs before Jonathan Finch got stuck into his old Seedhill team-mates with the ball.

Only skipper Neil Thompson (31) offered much in the way of runs for Nelson as Finch claimed 7-33 as the Seedhillites were hustled out for just 76.

The Rawtenstall versus Ramsbottom game was over by 3.50pm after Jonathan Fielding claimed 7-20 from 15 overs at Bacup Road.

Fielding’s efforts saw Rawtenstall bowled out for 46 with Andrew Clough top scoring with 23.

Such a target was never going to challenge Rammy too much and they got home by nine wickets.

Accrington pro Ashar Zaidi smashed 101 as his side beat Rishton at Blackburn Road. Accy posted 218-5 and then Jimmy Hayhurst and David Ormerod claimed three wickets each as Rishton were 109 all out.

Church beat Enfield by seven runs in an excellent Hyndburn derby.

After Church had battled their way to 131 all out it seemed plain sailing as Enfield slumped to 55-5.

But they rallied before finally being bowled out for 124.

Todmorden, who went into the day as leaders, beat Bacup with Simon Newbitt making 90 out of 256-6.

Jack McGregor made 71 as Bacup replied and Tim Farragher was 64 not out at the end – but the Lanehead outfit were well short.

Burnley beat Colne in style at Turf Moor.

Qasim Ali made 114 out of 258-9 before professional Adnan Rasool claimed 8-23 as Colne were 74 all out.