SETTLE survived a late batting collapse to earn a Ribblesdale League victory over Salesbury at the Marshfield ground on Saturday.

The game survived the wet weather thanks to good covers and a lot of work by the ground staff ensuring play was able to start at 2.30pm, with a 37 over a side match.

Salesbury won the toss and elected to bat.

They were quickly reduced to 47-4 but the innings was held together by Professional Neil Hornbuckle who scored 68 not out in a total of 145-6.

Settle got off to a good start with a 66 run opening partnership between Asif Fazal and Tom Davidson assisted by three dropped catches of varying difficulty.

Settle then suffered a mini collapse and the runs dried up as they limped along to 99-4.

However an unbeaten fifth wicket stand between John Davidson (35 no) and Thomas Strickland (24 no) saw Settle home by six wickets with just over three overs to spare.

Four teams entered Saturday’s league fixtures with an unbeaten record, Clitheroe, Whalley, Read and Settle and all had home fixtures.

Leaders Clitheroe entertained local rivals Ribblesdale Wandrerers and retained their unbeaten record despite several scares.

Batting first Clitheroe were bowled out for 127, with Pro Janaka Gunaratne top scoring with 33.

They were indebted to a last wicket partnership of 30 between Marcus Sharp and Saud Ahmed.

Ian Britcliffe was the pick of the bowlers with 6-48.

In reply Ribblesdale lost wickets on a regular basis but were always in with a chance whilst Ryan Canning was at the crease, he was eventually ninth out for 48 and Ribblesdale ended on 94-9, losing by 33 runs.

Read welcomed Barnoldswick and lost their unbeaten record with a six wicket loss. Read batted first and were bowled out for 79, with Shashrika Pussagolla taking 4-21.

Barnoldswick were never in any real trouble and reached their target with six wickets in hand.

Earby played Great Harwood in a game reduced to 25 overs per side.

Great Harwood batted first and scored 129-4, with Ashen Silva top scoring with 52.

Earby lost wickets on a regular basis mainly due to 6-25 from Paul Houldsworth, and were grateful for a last wicket partnership of 38 between Daniel Helliwell (29) and Matthew Garner (14no) which gave the score some respectability when they were all out for 80, losing by 49 runs.

Padiham beat Cherry Tree by six wickets in a reduced overs game.

Cherry Tree batting first scored 116-7, with Nas Iqbal top scoring with 41 not out.

Padiham cantered over the line with several overs to spare thanks to 46 from Jordan Baczkiewicz.

The matches between Brinscall and Euxton, Whalley and Baxenden and Oswaldtwistle and Feniscowles were all abandoned.