DARWEN kept up the pressure on top two Walsden and Norden with victory at Burnley in Lancashire League Division One.

Sub professional Siddhesh Lad was the star of the show for the third-placed Towers with his 103 helping his side to a 77-run victory.

Lad’s ton was the foundation of Darwen’s 226-3 with fellow paid man Ockert Erasmus also finishing unbeaten for Burnley on 65 as the Turf Moor men came up short.

Clitheroe are fourth but are now just two points ahead of Lowerhouse after Ben Heap’s men won the battle of the two sides on Sunday by three wickets.

Mansoor Amjad had hit 102 not out for Clitheroe in their 220-6 batting first but it was skipper Heap who played the decisive knock, his 75 getting House over the line.

Francois Haasbroek (35), Paddy Martin (33) and Charlie Cottam (30 not out) all also scored key runs as Ali Ross took 5-28 for Clitheroe.

Ramsbottom ran Walsden all the way before the leaders got over the line for a four-wicket win.

Elliott Gilford’s contribution was decisive as he made a quick-fire 27 not out, including five boundaries, to help his side to victory with an over to spare.

It overshadowed the efforts of Daryn Smit who had earlier in the piece smashed 111 from 63 balls as Rammy were all out for 211. The paid man hit 16 fours and five sixes.

Colne remain winless at the foot of the top flight after going down to a 117-run defeat at home to Todmorden.

Bilal Abbas made 96 and Gurender Singh 64 in the visitors’ 263-5, Colne then reduced to 39-6 in reply.

Tom Bradshaw (34) top scored in the rearguard action that took Colne’s score up to some level of respectability as they were all out for 146.

Crompton were six-run winners at Norden in a game that defied the early season form book while Rochdale picked up a three-wicket win over Middleton for their second win of the summer.

Bacup upset the odds in Division Two, picking up a first win of the season by knocking Haslingden off top spot with a three-wicket win.

Ex-England man Samit Patel had top scored with 48 in Haslingden’s 166-8 before fellow paid man Sachithra Serasinghe hit an unbeaten 88 to see his side to victory.

Littleborough profited to move to the summit with a one-wicket win at Nelson.

They got home with an over to spare, last man in Alistair Chew finishing on 10 not out after professional Travis Townsend had made 54 chasing Nelson’s 186-5.

Church are third after an eight-wicket win at Enfield.

Captain Levi Wolfenden (4-35) and professional Sagar Trivedi (4-40) did the damage as Enfield were all out for 101.

The skipper then hit 45 not out to wrap up victory inside 16 overs.

League new boys Greenmount are level on points with Church after their 81-run win at Rishton.

Lewis Dove was the star of the show, scoring 63 not out in his side’s 274-8 as Sachithra Perera took 4-71.

Dove then took 5-58 as Rishton were all out for 193 despite an unbeaten 67 from captain Brad Boddie.

Stuart Crabtree hit 105 in Accrington’s 246-8 as they picked up a 62-run win at Rawtenstall.

Professional Saliya Saman then made 95 in reply but it was almost a lone hand, Lasith Lakshan taking 4-41 as Rawtenstall were all out for 184.

East Lancs were 138-run winners against Great Harwood, captain Niall Boyle making 56 in his side’s 226-6 before Joe Bolton took 5-28 as the visitors were dismissed for just 88.