Darwen, Burnley and Clitheroe continue to keep the pressure on Lancashire League Division One’s leading two teams Walsden and Norden.

The Towers have won four in a row to sit third, the latest being an eight-wicket win over Lowerhouse.

John Cordingley took 5-27 as Lowerhouse were all out for 137, Ben Heap making 50.

Victory was wrapped up in the 21st over with Cordingley again leading the way as he finished not out on 54 at the close, Dave Bowden also making 51.

Fourth-placed Burnley were six-wicket winners at home to Colne, who are still looking for their first win at the bottom of the pile.

Visiting pro Paras Dogra made 75 in Colne’s 166-9 as fellow paid man Ockert Erasmus led the way with the ball for Burnley, taking 3-49.

He then saw his side home with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 59, with captain Dan Pickup also 24 not out at the close. Joey Marshall made 35.

Clitheroe were nine-wicket winners at Rochdale, Cole Hayman, Jack Dewhurst and Sam Halstead all taking three wickets to dismiss the hosts for just 89.

Thomas Lord then saw his side to a routine victory with 66 not out from just 46 balls, hitting nine fours and three sixes.

Ramsbottom are up to sixth after their 47-run win at home to Todmorden.

Paid man Daryn Smit made 94 from 153 balls to dominate his side’s 178-7, batting first.

Smit then took 4-27 and captain Kieren Grimshaw 4-14 as Todmorden slipped from a promising position of 101-2 to 131 all out.

Leaders Walsden are four points clear of Norden after their nine-wicket win against Crompton.

Norden kept up their part of the bargain with a seven-wicket triumph at Middleton, professional Ashar Zaidi hitting an unbeaten 95.

In Division Two, Church are nine points clear at the summit after a 109-run win against Accrington.

Captain Levi Wolfenden top scored with 57, including six fours and a six, and Josh Scully finished not out on 45 in the leaders’ 239-6.

Wolfenden, 3-21, then helped get things going with ball in hand before Phill Gilrane, 5-35, did real damage to dismiss Accrington for 130, Tom Walker putting up the most resistance with 51.

Haslingden are second but lost by two wickets at home to third in the table Greenmount on Saturday.

The gap between the sides is just four points as Tom Heaton, 61, and captain Ryan Senior, unbeaten on 32, helped Greenmount over the line with seven balls to spare, Joe Sipocz taking 3-33.

Earlier in the piece Haslingden had been all out for 194, Mini Bhada leading the way with 56 as Evan Williams took 3-37.

Enfield, fifth, were big 10-wicket winners against bottom side Nelson.

Liam Jackson took 6-19 and Nihaal Basharat 3-21 as Nelson were all out for 75 despite being 36-0 at one stage. Stuart Els, 38, Lewis Wright, 28, were both unbeaten as Enfield cruised home in the 15th over.

East Lancs made it back-to-back victories with a five-wicket triumph against Rishton.

Rishton were all out for 119 with Joe Bolton and Ben Finch both taking three wickets, Brad Juliff top scoring with 34 as extras was the next biggest contributor on 31.

Plenty of East Lancs batsmen then got starts with captain Paul Turner’s unbeaten 23 seeing his side home as Rishton paid man Sachithra Perera took 3-35.

Bacup picked up a three-wicket win against Rawtenstall.

The visitors made 207-6, professional Saliya Saman making 61 in an innings that included seven fours and two sixes.

Captain Simon Newbitt then led by example opening up in the reply, with his 85 from 95 balls, including 14 fours and a six, laying the platform for victory with eight balls in hand. Ishaq Hussain took 4-57.

Great Harwood lost by eight wickets at home to Littleborough despite Thikshila de Silva’s fine 136 from 135 balls, Tom Pye finishing unbeaten on 105 in the successful reply.