PADIHAM professional Kasif Siddique destroyed Clitheroe's hopes in the Veka Ribblesdale League.

The hard-hitting Indian batsman scored 181 and was backed up by Mick Hawke with 60 as they set the Ribble Valley club a target of 316-9. Siddique then picked up five wickets as Clitheroe were dismissed for 189.

Zahoor Ali was also in the runs with 130 not out for Cherry Tree. Nigel Robbins added an undefeated 60 as they reached a total of 278-3 and 110 not out from Oswaldtwistle's Chris Burton was not enough as they ended 104 runs short.

Australian Andrew Crook picked up 7-46 as Whalley were dismissed for 141 despite an impressive 71 from Mark Whelan. Earlier Allan Armer had scored 89 in Great Harwood's innings of 182 with Whalley professional Josh Marquet taking four wickets.

There is no stopping read who swept aside Barnoldswick's total of 191 after Matthew Plant had produced a one-man onslaught, scoring 134, including 14 fours and 8 sixes, off just 86 balls. Craig Walton's 73 not out and Danny Law (64no) saw the league leaders to an eight-wicket win.

Shahid Nawaz saw Ribblesdale Wanderers to an seven wicket win over Edenfield, scoring 120 not out. Edenfield's Australian professional, Adam Webb, scored 53 as they set a target of 176.

Settle are hanging on to second place after securing a 17-run victory over Oswaldtwistle. Keith Hornby (43)and professional Robin Morris (47) helped the Dales side reach 178-9. Baxenden were just short with professional Jonathan Harvey scoring 41 as John Hughes picked up 5-17 for Settle.

Paul Tilbury scored 63 for Earby as his side eased to a six-wicket win over Blackburn Northern.

Results - Senior League: Blackburn Northern 153-6 (0 pts) Earby 154-4 (5) - Earby won by six wickets; Great Harwood 182 (7) Whalley 141 (2) - Great Harwood won by 41 runs; Oswaldtwistle Imm 174-6 (0) Cherry Tree 278-3 (5) - Cherry Tree won by 104 runs; Padiham 316-9 (7) Clitheroe 189 (0 ) - Padiham won by 127 runs; Read 193-2 (7) Barnoldswick 191 (0) - Read won by eight wickets; Ribblesdale W 178-3 (7) Edenfield 176 (0) - Ribblesdale won by seven wickets; Settle 178-9 (5) Baxenden 161-9 (0) - Read won by 17 runs

BIG-HITTING Allan Armer of Great Harwood continued his form to help the Veka Ribblesdale League to a nail-biting victory in the MEN Inter-League knockout competition.

They beat the Central Lancashire League by just nine runs - and with three balls to spare - thanks to a top score of 95 from Armer.

Result: Veka Ribblesdale League 259-5, Central Lancashire League 250.