MARK PRICE's decision to use himself as a pinch hitter paid dividends when he smashed 42 runs off 35 balls as Ramsbottom raced to 79 off the first 12 overs in their Inter-League Knockout Cup game against neighbours Rawtenstall.

His dismissal heralded a remarkable collapse which saw the Acre Bottom outfit slump to 145 for nine off 29 overs.

The last wicket pairing of Gardfield Moreton, who hit 17 not out, and Michael Haslam, with an unbeaten 25, showed their colleagues how to bat with a stand of 43, 19 of which came off the last over of the innings bowled by Roscoe.

Rawtenstall still should have been favourites to win on a beautiful batting track, but Ramsbottom bowled and fielded superbly to stifle their opponents and progress comfortably through to the quarter-finals of this competition for the first time.

On Sunday Ramsbottom were in an excellent position when rain caused the game against Colne be abandoned.

Professional Brad Hodge, with 62 not out and Tommy Read, on 41 not out, had taken Ramsbottom to 131 for one after 30 overs when play was abandoned. The match will be replayed on Saturday July 14.

Inter League Club Challenge Trophy

RAWTENSTALL v RAMSBOTTOM

Ramsbottom

T Read c P Hanson b Roscoe...31

M Price b Cook-Martin...42

B Hodge b Roscoe...2

S Lord c Mott b Roscoe...9

M Dentith c Roscoe b Clough...13

J Marcroft b Clough...15

R Hevingham lbw Payne...5

J Morris b Clough...2

L Daggett b Clough...0

G Moreton not out...17

M Haslam not out...25

Extras...27

Total (for 9 wkts)...188

Payne 9-1-32-1; Seal 9-1-33-0; Mott 5-0-28-0; Roscoe 9-1-30-3; Cook-Martin 4-0-27-1; Clough 9-0-24-4.

Rawtenstall

A Payne c Hevingham b Haslam...5

M Mott c Dentith b Price...39

W Cook-Martin c Read b Daggett...1

P Hanson c Hevingham b Daggett...3

J Carter run out...11

R Wood c Hevingham b Read...16

D Hanson c Hevingham b Hodge...10

P Seal c Lord b Hodge...25

P Collis b Hodge...6

A Clough not out...8

K Roscoe b Haslam...1

Extras...20

Total...145

Daggett 9-2-15-2; Haslam 7.5-0-36-2; Hodge 7-0-30-3; Read 9-2-36-1; Price 9-2-22-1.

LANCASHIRE LEAGUE

COLNE v RAMSBOTTOM

Match abandoned

Ramsbottom

T Read not out...41

M Price c S Woods b Moulding...19

B Hodge not out...62

Extras...9

Total (1 wicket)...131

N Moulding 9-1-32-1; G Haydock 9-0-28-0; J Ellis 6-0-34-0; North 4-0-24-0; G Hunt 2-0-7-0.