RIBBLESDALE League leaders Settle piled on the runs in their 125-run win at Ribblesdale Wanderers.

Now 43 points ahead of Feniscowles and Read in second and third having played a game more, Settle posted 302-5 batting first.

Will Davidson made a quick 50 off 38 deliveries before Chesney Hughes made 85 off 76 deliveries including 13 fours and one six.

Dante Niles then added further acceleration, making 75 not out off just 44 deliveries including seven fours and four sixes. Ian Britcliffe took 3-79.

Ribblesdale were all out for 177. Andrew Needham made 43, Bilal Ahmed 37 and Martin Briggs 42. Hughes completed a good day with 5-48. Feniscowles’ task is all the more tough after their three-wicket defeat at Cherry Tree.

Batting first, Mini Bhada made 30 without much trouble for the visitors. The innings changed dramatically when he was out however as Feniscowles slipped from 48-2 to 54-8.

Captain Mark McGovern looked to steady the ship and managed to add a further 50 for the last two wickets ending 34 not out in a total of 104 all out. Ross Bretherton took 3-37 and Rob Ince 4-34.

In reply, Jake Willacy was in good form until he was run out for 34 as Cherry Tree looked in a little trouble at 41-4.

Captain Jack Woolridge steadied the innings with a patient 26 not out and Charlie Elwood made a quick-fire 19. Despite losing two wickets with the score on 95, Cherry Tree got over the line in a tense finish by three wickets in the 36th over. All the Feniscowles bowlers kept it tight with two wickets each for Chris Bleasdale and Nizam Vaid.

Read are also on 117 points after their eight-wicket win at Earby.

Earby batted first and lost their first six wickets cheaply. Luke Hipgrave, 44, and Joseph Robinson, 30 not out, rebuilt the innings and got the total to 139 all out to at least give their bowlers something to defend. Thikshila De Silva did most of the damage taking 6-14.

In reply, Read lost Will Wrathall without scoring, but from that point took control, opener Joseph Halstead making 65 not out and De Silva 56 as Read won by eight wickets with 20 overs to spare.

Padiham and Barnoldswick, along with Ribblesdale, are all four points further back.

Padiham were four-wicket winners at Barlick on Saturday, reducing their hosts to 37-6 before they got up to 76 all out. Jack Edgar did the damage with 6-33.

Padiham in reply also struggled before getting over the line and Kevin Hitchon batted throughout the innings to make 31 not out with extras 22 being the next contributor.

Jonny Beech took 3-46 and Jack Reitschel 2-13 as Padiham ran out winners by four wickets.

Salesbury were big nine wicket-winners at bottom side Brinscall.

The hosts looked set for a good score when they moved to 138-1, thanks to a second-wicket partnership of 110 between Liam Winstanley, 52, and Nisal Francisco, 56. However, they collapsed to 172 all out. As Ashley Marsh took 5-46 and Oliver Wetton 4-62.

In reply, an unbeaten second-wicket partnership between Liam Bedford, 100 not out, and Peter Richardson, 55 not out, gave Salesbury victory with 13 overs in hand.

In the day’s other game, Whalley won by six wickets at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Oswaldtwistle batted first and were all out for 89. Siraj Akhtar, 19, was the top scorer. Oliver Parr took 4-33 and Richard Palmer 3-24.

In reply, Declan Bailey, 22, Frankie Jackson, 26, and Tom Lawson, 26 not out, ensured that Whalley reached their target with six wickets and 20 overs to spare. Stuart Els took 3-26.

Bottom side Baxenden were the side without a game at the weekend due to the 13-team structure.