RAMSBOTTOM made it four wins on the trot when they accounted for basement club Rishton on a blisteringly hot afternoon.

Electing to bat first, sub professional Stuart Williams, the former West Indian opener, gave the Acre Bottom side a flying start with a run-a-ball 67 before being bowled by Sibley.

The in-form Keith Webb and Brian Taylor kept the momentum going with a fine partnership before both departed going for big shots.

Webb, followed on from his previous week's century with a brilliant 89.

Wickets were then lost pushing the score on but a total of 250 set a formidable challenge to a side who had only managed one win all season.

Michael Haslam then quickly removed both openers to put the home side under more pressure but to their credit New Zealand professional Rob Nicol and captain John Dobson dug in and slowly started to pull things round.

When Dobson was dismissed Rostron joined his pro and although the scoring rate was well below what was required one sensed that Rishton fancied their chances.

The pair pushed the score along to 158 when Nicol clipped a ball from Price off his legs. He timed the shot beautifully and it deserved a boundary but somehow David Bell, fielding at short mid wicket, took off and held a magnificent left handed diving catch.

Nicol stood aghast for seconds before knocking his wickets over in frustration.

After that it was just a case of seeing whether the Rams could wheedle out the remaining batsmen and both Price and Williams started to throw the ball up looking for mistimed shots.

The strategy was dependent on Rishton's willingness to try and earn some bonus points and in fairness to them they went for it and perished in the process although it took a boundary catch off the penultimate ball of the game to ensure the Rams went home with a maximum points haul.

RISHTON v RAMSBOTTOM

RAMSBOTTOM

S. Woods c Dobson b Wells...15

S. Williams b Sibley...67

K. Webb c Nicol b Sibley...89

D. Bell b Wells...11

B. Taylor c Eccles b Greaves...33

M. Dentith not out...11

J. Harrison b Sibley...12

B. Horrocks b Sibley...0

M. Haslam not out...1

Extras...11

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Total (for 7) 250

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S. Greaves 11-0-76-1; R. Rostron 3-0-22-0; C. Sibley 22-1-101-4; N. Wells 14-3-47-2.

RISHTON

D. Eccles c Hevingham b Haslam...2

A. Bartley c Hevingham b Haslam...0

R. Nicol c Bell b Price...84

J. Dobson lbw Williams...28

R. Rostron run out...37

S. Greaves st Hevingham b Price...20

M. Leathert c Webb b Price...13

N. Wells c & b Williams...4

S. Hacking lbw Williams...6

C. Sibley c Webb b Williams...6

S. Wyse not out...2

Extras...12

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Total 214

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M. Haslam 9-1-29-2; M. Price 24-3-93-3; S. Williams 16.5-0-82-4.