EARBY opener Stephen Pickles helped his side to a superb start in their Jennings Ramsbottom Cup semi final clash with Barnoldswick.

Pickles scored 79 and was backed up by Craig Walton (37) and Paul Tilbury (31) as they set Barnoldswick a target of 221-6.

The visitors were on 73-3 after 24 overs when the rain affected game was brought to a halt by bad light. They will return to complete the game next Sunday.

Ribblesdale Wanderers and Great Harwood did not start their game which will be played next weekend.

Read consolidated their place at the top of the league with victory over Earby on Saturday.

They scored 199-8 and Warren Eastham took 5-47 to dismiss the Applegarth club for 184.

Cherry Tree kept up the chase in second place with victory over Clitheroe.

Professional Naeem Ashraf scored 81 and took 5-42 as Cherry Tree pulled off a 40 run win.

Great Harwood lead the chasing pack after beating Blackburn Northern by six wickets.

Northern professional Ata ur Rehman scored 112 and Farhan Adil rattled up 83 not out in Harwood's reply.

Edenfield's Andy Williams scored 118 not out as his side set Oswaldtwistle a target of 167-7.

Gerard Metcalf rattled up 56 but Oswaldtwistle fell short in their reply.

Padiham professional Faheem Fazal smashed 58 which included six fours and five sixes, but David Howard took 6-66 to secure victory for Ribblesdale Wanderers after their professional Shahid Nawaz scored 77 with Fazal taking 6-57.

Graham Knowles was on hot form scoring 91 and John Kearsley added 63 not out in Whalley's 196-4 but Baxenden just had the edge in a close game with professional Jonathan Harvey scoring 87 and Mark Rishton 53 not out.

Roger Hill scored 77 as Settle pulled off a surprise victory over Barnoldswick.

Michael Scothern took 5-41 for Barnoldswick but David Jolleys ripped through the visitors with 6-41. Results: Clitheroe 137 (2), Cherry Tree 177 (7); Great Harwood 169-4 (5), Blackburn Northern 166-9 (0); Oswaldtwistle 113-9 (0), Edenfield 167-7 (5); Padiham 117 (2), Ribblesdale Wanderers 153 (7); Read 199-8 (7), Earby 184 (0); Settle 151-7 (7), Barnoldswick 70 (0); Whalley 196-4 (0), Baxenden 199-5 (5).

Ramsbottom Cup semi final: Earby 221-6, Barnoldswick 73-3 (24 overs); Ribblesdale Wanderers v Great Harwood (no play).

Lawrenson Cup semi finals: Salisbury 221-9, Ribblesdale Wanderers 145; Cherry Tree 180, Read 184-9.

LEAGUE TABLE

P W L Bp Nr Pts

Read... 15 9 1 10 5 65

Cherry Tree... 15 9 3 12 3 63

Gt Harwood... 15 9 3 8 3 59

Earby... 15 7 5 14 3 55

Blackburn N... 15 7 4 10 4 53

Baxenden... 15 7 3 6 5 51

Barnoldswick... 15 6 7 10 2 44

Clitheroe... 15 5 6 10 4 43

Padiham... 15 5 7 6 3 37

Settle... 14 4 6 8 4 36

Ribb Wand... 15 4 7 6 4 34

Edenfield... 14 4 7 6 3 32

Oswaldtwistle... 15 2 10 10 3 26

Whalley... 15 1 10 0 4 13