Sleep closes in on record

Rishton professional Peter Sleep edged closer to the club's amateur batting record with an innings of 96 against league leaders Ramsbottom at Blackburn Road on Saturday. Sleep added 205, the highest in the league this season, with professional Kumar Dharmasena  as Rishton made 215-2 but a superb 115 from Alex Bell saw Ramsbottom to a 6 wicket win.

Enfield were on the wrong end of the highest score of the day as  Haslingden piled up 277-5 at Bentgate. Steve Dearden hit 116, beating  his career best 114 against Enfield in 2003, adding 149 for the 5th  wicket with skipper Paul Blackledge. The target proved too much for  Enfield who were bowled out for a respectable 179.Adam Bracewell top  scored with 39 with good support from Mitch Taylor (27), David  Bracewell (22) and Phil Stanley (22). The vital wicket was that of  professional Alviro Petersen who fell to his opposite number Pasan Wanasinghe for 28.

Church went down to a 9 wicket defeat at Nelson. Professional Ruvin  Peiris top scored with 40 in Church's 137 but with Joe Scuderi in  prime form the total was never going to be enough. Scuderi made an  unbeaten 72, creating a new club amateur batting record in the process.

Accrington went down to a 12 run defeat at the hands of Colne at  Thorneyholme Road. The visitors made 199 with professional Tama Canning taking 4-72, Zahir Afzal 3-60 and Tariq Hussain 3-49. Mohsin Ahmed made 52, Afzal 38 and Graeme Sneddon an unbeaten 29 but  Canning's dismissal for 17 proved the decisive one with Colne's  professional Mahendra Nagamootoo taking 6-77.

Enfield finally laid the Todmorden hoodoo to rest on Sunday when they  beat the Yorkshireman convincingly at Dill Hall Lane. Professional Alviro Petersen and Neil Holmes took five wickets each to bowl  Todmorden out for just 67. Opener Criag Fergusson then helped himself  to an unbeaten 37 in Enfield’s 7 wicket win.

Rishton were in the runs again but East Lancs beat them convincingly  at Alexandra Meadows. Centuries from professional Justin Kreusch and Mark Lomas took the home side to 289-2 which was easily the top score  of the weekend. Andy Bartley made an unbeaten 62 in Rishton's sedate 
reply of 198-4.

Church came out on top in the local derby at West End beating Accrington by 6 wickets in a high scoring game. Tama Canning (57),  Nasser Hussain (45) and Graeme Sneddon (39) led the way in Accrington's 233-9 but Accrington old boy Adam Greenwood (72) combined with professional Ruvin Peiris to post a superb opening stand of 164. Peiris made 108 and then skipper Phil Sykes hit an unbeaten 37 to take his side to an easy victory.

In the Ribblesdale League, Baxenden came out on top in the local  derby against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel at New Lane. The home side made 147 but Baxenden professional Indika Gallage hit an unbeaten 60 and skipper Mark Rishton 48 in a 6 wicket win for the visitors.

Great Harwood's title hopes were finally extinguished at Victory Park where Barnoldswick came out on top with a 112 run victory. Professional Jeeva Kalatunga made 111 and skipper John Pickup an unbeaten 50 in the home sides imposing 264-9. In reply Harwood were bowled out for 152.

Better news for Great Harwood on Sunday when they qualified for the Grand Final of the Thwaites 20/20 Cup by beating Read by losing fewer 
wickets at the Cliffe.