Lancashire League

SEAMER Stuart Parker grabbed a magnificent 4 for 7 bowling return as Todmorden ran out easy six wickets winners at Church.

The Church batting collapsed to 62 all out as Parker and Alex Scholefield, with three wickets, went to work.

The result was never in doubt with opener Richard Baigent's 30 laying the foundations for victory as Church's poor form continues.

Jack Simpson and Brad McNamara led Haslingden to victory at Bacup with fine half centuries.

Opener Simpson posted 53 while the Ausssie all-rounder chipped in with a solid 50 in Haslingden's 156 for 9.

Elahi picked up the prize scalp of professional James Peterson, one of four wickets for the seamer, and that proved the turning point in the game with only Peter Thompson's 38 not out offering any further resistance as Bacup finished 31 runs short.

Nelson completed their second Lancashire League victory inside a week against struggling Accrington.

Paul Garaghty led the Nelson charge with a sparkling 54 not out in a score of 135 for five.

Accrington were never really in the hunt after Nelson professional Alan Dawson ripped the heart out of Accrington's batting with a four for 20 spell as Nelson claimed all five points. Colne stepped up their challenge at Enfield, despite another gallant effort by home professional Shane Lee, who is lacking support from the Dill Hall Lane amateurs.

It was another good day for Colne skipper Gary Hunt who top scored with 36 out of his side's total of 172, Lee (4-54) and Bernard Reidy (3-35) helping Enfield to a consolation bonus point.

Once Lee (41) had been dismissed, however, the Enfield batting folded. And it was Hunt who wrapped up the tail with 3-9 in less than four overs, including the valuable wicket of Reidy.

East Lancs stayed top with victory at Burnley but the home team should have pushed them much closer.

Steady contributions down the order, including an unbeaten 40 from professional Billy Stelling, helped the leaders to a respectable 170 for four.

Burnley professional Dale Benkenstein couldn't bowl because of a back injury but it should not have been an invincible total. Burnley batted too slowly at the start and in the middle part of their innings, leaving too much for the later batsmen to do. It was frustrating for the home side to finish only 13 runs short of victory with wickets still in hand.

A poor game of cricket at Blackburn Road, including some controversial umpiring decisions, did at least produce an exciting finish and victory for Lowerhouse over Rishton.

Lowerhouse were dismissed for 130, with Rishton once again guilty of conceding far too many extras - 31 in all - to help their opponents. Chris Bleazard seemed to get a bad decision and top scorer was Gary Moorhouse (24) before being bowled by Robbie Walsh, who had four victims.

Rishton's reply hit deep trouble at 68 for five but Russell Whalley (36) hit three sixes in an over off Corrie Jordaan to turn things round.

Whalley then got a bad decision and Jordaan (6-46) had the last laugh as rain robbed Rishton of an over, leaving them just three runs short of their revised target of 128.

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