DARWEN saw their hopes of going top of Lancashire League Division One dashed by leaders Walsden who secured a five-wicket victory.

Instead the Towers tumbled from second to fourth place with Norden and Clitheroe climbing above them after victories over Ramsbottom and Todmorden respectively.

Batting first, Darwen were dismissed for 175 with Reece Davies top scoring with 49 with decent knocks from Jordan Clarke (37), Rob Cobley (23no), Mark Friend (23) and Dave Bowden (21).

In reply, Walsden secured victory in the 44th over for the loss of five wickets - Joe Gale top scoring with 74.

Norden climbed to second after beating out of sorts Ramsbottom - also by five wickets.

Ramsbottom were bowled out for just 86, Dan Pyke, with 24, the pick of their batsmen.

Ashar Zaidi, with 5-25, did most of the damage for Norden.

While Ramsbottom professional Daryn Smit took 4-37, Zaidi produced with the bat as well, his unbeaten 31 guiding Norden to victory.

Clitheroe, league champions in 2017, picked up a fourth win of the season to climb up to third place.

Batting first, Todmorden were bowled out for 121 with Andrew Sutcliffe top scoring with 34 - Cole Hayman (4-14) and paid man Mansooor Amjad (4-21) doing the damage with the ball.

In reply, Clitheroe were made to work hard for their win. Ali Ross (28) and Tom Lord (31) got them off to a steady start but wickets began to tumble - Gurender Singh claiming 4-30 - before Sam Mulligan (29no) and Stuart Lemon (11) got them over the line.

Champions Burnley slipped to defeat in a high-scoring affair at Middleton who were led to victory by James Price who scored a brilliant unbeaten 107.

Burnley posted a very competitive 219-9 with Chris Burton top scoring with 68 as Dan Pickup (30), professional Ockert Erasmus (23) and Chris Holt (21) all contributed.

But Price, batting at three, led the reply and helped Middleton seal victory in the last over.

Fergus Bailey and Erasmus took two wickets each.

Jonny Whitehead scored 110 to help Lowerhouse to a 72-run win over Rochdale to move up to fifth place.

‘House batted first and scored 210-6 with Stephen Parry scoring 53. In reply, Rochdale were bowled out for 138 with Paddy Martin taking 4-40 while Parry followed up his fine form with the bat to take 3-42.

Colne are still looking for a first win of the season after losing by 52 runs against Crompton.

Crompton closed on 249-6 with Mohammed Jamal hitting 84. Colne, in reply slipped from 166-1 - Kenton Rhodes (64) and David Spokes (45) in the runs - to 197 all out.

Haslingden remain top of Division Two despite slipping to defeat against Enfield who are up to joint second.

It appeared Haslingden were on course for another victory as they bowled Enfield out for just 99 - Lewis McIntosh taking 4-25 - but Faheem Basharat returned figures of 6-37 as Haslingden were bowled out for 79.

East Lancs were bowled out for just 48 as they suffered a heavy loss against Church.

Batting first, Church scored 208 with Sagar Trivedi (27), Levi Wolfenden (24), and unbeaten knocks from Joel Gaskill (30) and Josh Scully (24) all contributing tot he total.

Phill Gilrane then took 4-2 and Liam Dyson 3-14 to skittle East Lancs out.

Rawtenstall inflicted a first defeat on Littleborough.

Opener Matt Kershaw scored an unbeaten 51 in Rawtenstall’s 150-7 total with paid man Saliya Saman scoring a half century.

Littleborough were then bowled out for 130 - Ishaq Hussain (4-30) the pick of the Rawtenstall bowlers.

Nelson enjoyed a five-wicket win at Rishton with Usman Tariq scoring 76 to help secure the victory. Batting first, Rishton posted 153-8 with Harris Masood hitting 51 before Nelson reached their target in the 38th over.

Chesney Hughes scored an unbeaten 121 as Greenmount posted 268-6 against Great Harwood.

In reply, Great Harwood were then dismissed for 171.

Accrington sealed a first victory over Bacup who remain winless. Toby Bulcock top scored with 30 in Accrington’s 157 total before Bacup were bowled out for 89.