EAST Lancashire maintained top spot in the Lancashire League as they held off champions Burnley in a tense game at Alexandra Meadows.

Pro Shanan Stewart was again in supreme form as he smashed a superb 93, piling on 135 for the third wicket with skipper Phil Bolton, who himself made a half-century.

Andy Clague added 35 as the leaders posted 219-7. Jonathan Clare was the pick of the Burnley bowling with 4-64.

Clare then hit a half-century for the champions as Burnley chased down the target, but once he was run out, only pro Jon Harvey really posted a score, 46, as Burnley fell agonisingly short.

Nas Iqbal was the pick of the East Lancs bowling as he took 4-67 from his 17 overs and Stewart rounded off a good day with 2-52 from 17 overs.

Rishton are locked on 58 points with East Lancs as they recorded another good win, this time at Lowerhouse.

Despite losing pro Saeed Anwar Jnr without scoring, John Cordingley steered the Blackburn Road side to a competitive total of 184 with 69.

Matt Hope and Maqsood both took four wickets each for the 2005 league champions.

But Anwar wasn't to be refused some part in the game as, after missing out with the bat, he destroyed the Lowerhouse order with the ball as he took 6-57 to dismiss Lowerhouse for just 109.

Only skipper Jonathan Finch (20) and Chris Bleazard, who hit 68, made it into double figures.

Enfield lost for the first time in the 2007 league season as they missed out in a tight game at the Horsfield against Colne.

Colne posted a decent total of 184 with Liam Sumpter top-scoring for the home side with 40 and pro Greg Mail and Jeff Ellis both scoring 33.

Former Lancashire star Bernard Reidy ignored his advancing years as he took 5-68 from 18 overs.

Craig Fergusson hit 49 at the top of Enfield's reply but despite several batsmen getting starts, nobody could stick around and push Enfield over the line as they fell six runs short.

Nelson notched up their second win of the campaign and inflicted Accrington's sixth straight defeat at Thorneyholme Road.

The majority of the Nelson batting made it into double figures as they posted 212.

The major contributions came from Khurrum Nazir (48) and Danny Kegg (36), with new South African professional Henry Davids making 28 on his Lancashire League debut.

Toby Bulcock was the pick of the Accrington bowling with 5-64.

Accrington got off to the worst possible start as Richard Meade, returning from injury, ripped out pro Nishit Shetty and Waqas Ahmed as they were reduced to 12-3 and they never really recovered, falling well short.

Phil Hayes was the star of the show for Ramsbottom as he hit his maiden century, 115, helping his side to a comfortable win over Rawtenstall.

Ramsbottom hit 201-5 thanks to Hayes ton and Rawtenstall could manage only 114.