BAXENDEN struck an early blow in the race for the Ribblesdale Senior League title as they beat last season's runners-up Padiham at Back Lane on Saturday.

David Parkinson was Baxenden's hero as he scored an unbeaten 103, which provided the foundations for Baxenden's comfortable nine-wicket victory.

Batting first, Padiham were all out for 188, with professional Kashif Siddique compiling a cool 100 and his opposite number Jonathan Fielding hauling in 6-53, but the hosts reached their target losing just one wicket. Callum Waddington added 64 to Parkinson's century.

Last year's champions Clitheroe are still in hot form after Michael Papps and Neil Bolton fashioned knocks of 71 and 75 respectively as Clitheroe coasted to a 129-run win at Settle.

Blackburn Northern were indebted to an unbeaten 93 from Naeem Ashraf as they overcame Whalley.

Kurran Butt grabbed 7-51 to restrict Whalley to 200-9, with Lee Kearsley posting 61, before Blackburn completed victory.

Earby defeated Oswaldtwistle Immanuel by eight wickets, with Dave Watson and Nigel Hodge steering the home side to victory with unbeaten knocks of 60 and 51 respectively.

Batting first, Ossy could only muster 166 with pro Ahmer Saeed top scoring with 53.

Russell Whalley cracked 89 and Alan Armer 53 as Great Harwood crushed Barnoldswick by 153 runs.

The visitors could only reached 104-9 in response to Great Harwood's 257-7.

Kenyan professional Thomas Odoyo led the way for Read in their narrow one wicket victory over Cherry Tree.

Marc Burrows made 53 in Cherry Tree's 181, but Read scraped home on 182-9, with Odoyo top scoring with 59. Nigel Robbins snatched 5-48.

Pro Joe Scuderi hammered an unbeaten 107 as Ribblesdale Wanderers clocked up a 27-run win over Edenfield.

Scuderi smashed 107 and Marsh weighed in with 63 as the hosts compiled a total of 220-4.

In response, Edenfield could only reach 193-8, Greg Smithson trying his best with a knock of 71.

Yesterday, only two results were possible. Padiham got back to winning ways as they overcame Great Harwood.

Padiham made 214-9 and with Harwood only having 22 overs to get a revised total of 153, they were bowled for 90.

Earby scored a big win over near neighbours Barnoldswick. The Victory Park side made just 80 and Earby chased a reduced target to win by 10 wickets.

Joe Scuderi hit a half-century for Ribblesdale Wanderers before the rains came at Oswaldtwistle and Blackburn Northern made 104-7 at Edenfield, with sub-pro Ghulam Ali taking all seven, before the rain came.