READ wicketkeeper Paul Swarbrick helped his side to an astonishing last ball victory over Barnoldswick to extend his side's lead at the top of the Jennings Ribblesdale League table.

Barnoldswick set the league leaders a target of 200-9 with professional Raza Arshad scoring 81 and Matthew Plant adding 55 as Read pro Akram Raza took 5-60.

Read needed two runs to win off the last ball of the match with the last pair at the wicket. Swarbrick pushed the ball and scampered a single, but in the heat of the moment Barnoldswick lost their composure and allowed the home side a second run which gave them the win.

Captain Paul Houldsworth scored 102 not out as Great Harwood posted a total of 247-5 against Edenfield. The home side's Andy Williams scored 60 as they raced to 130 for the loss of their first wicket, but Paul Newton stepped in with a five wicket haul to restrict them to 200-7.

Second placed Cherry Tree kept up their chase with victory over Baxenden. The home side scored 192-5 with professional Jonathan Harvey on 82 and Phil Bishop 53. Andy Grogan scored 69 as Cherry Tree secured an eight wicket win.

Blackburn Northern share second spot after beating Earby at the Applegarth. The home side struggled to 141-8 with Blackburn professional Ata-ur-Rehman taking 4-66 and Northern secured victory by three wickets.

Whalley's Graham Knowles scored 103 not out and was backed up by Lee Kearsley (51) as Whalley picked up their first win of the season. They beat Clitheroe by eight wickets after the home side had set a total of 165-7 with Mick Dewhurst top scoring on 41.

Settle were also in the runs with substitute professional Brendan Hodge on 69 as they set Padiham a target of 216-6. The visitors raced to 111 for the first wicket with Graham Jones on 77 and Andy McNicholas scoring 47 but they could only reach 203-9 in reply.

Ribblesdale Wanderers saw their nightmare season continue when Oswaldtwistle professional Will Carr took 5-27 to shoot them out for 77. Oswaldtwistle secured victory with three wickets down. On Sunday Earby picked up seven points in their rearranged game against Settle. The Dales side scored 133 but had Earby in trouble before Chris Walton played a sensible innings to reach 57 not out. Results: Baxenden 192-5 (0) Cherry Tree 194-2 (5); Clitheroe 165-7 (0) Whalley 166-2 (5); Earby 141-8 (0) Blackburn Northern 142-7 (5); Edenfield 200-7 (0) Great Harwood 247-5 (5); Read 201-9 (5) Barnoldswick 200-9 (0); Ribblesdale Wanderers 77 (0) Oswaldtwistle 78-3 (7); Settle 216-6 (5) Padiham 203-9 (0).

Sunday: Earby 137-6 (7) Settle 133 (0). TABLE

P W L Bp Nr Pts

Read... 13 8 1 8 4 56

Cherry Tr... 13 7 3 10 3 51

Blackb N... 13 7 3 10 3 51

Gt Harw... 13 7 3 10 3 51

Earby... 13 6 4 12 3 48

Baxenden... 13 6 3 6 4 44

Barnolds... 13 6 5 10 2 44

Clitheroe... 13 5 5 8 3 39

Padiham... 13 4 6 4 3 30

Edenfield... 12 3 6 6 3 27

Settle... 12 3 5 4 4 27

Ribbles W... 13 3 7 4 3 25

Osw Imm... 13 2 8 8 3 24

Whalley... 13 1 9 0 3 11