Accrington end losing streak!

At the seventeenth time of asking Accrington's horrendous run of Lancashire League defeats finally ended in glorious style at Nelson on Sunday.

Needing an unlikely 32 off four overs, Accrington won with an over to spare thanks to some spectacular hitting from number nine batsman Tariq Hussain, who bludgeoned 23 from just 7 balls to take his side to a 1 wicket win.

Nelson had set a target of 185 which Accrington eroded with some solid early order contributions from Mohsin Ahmed (27), Zahir Afzal (25) and professional Tama Canning (23). Wickets fell in the middle of the innings but Matt Wilson played a captain's knock of 45 to set up a spectacular ending which further dented the home side's title ambitions.

Enfield professional Alviro Petersen helped his side shock Pendle's other title contenders to lead his side to an 8 wicket win over Colne at Dill Hall Lane. The South African took 4-37 in tandem with Neil Holmes who took 3-52 to dismiss Colne for 171, a score that looked unlikely as the visitors fell to 44-6. Professional Mahendra Nagamootoo performed a rescue act with 64 but he couldn't perform one with the ball as Petersen hit 100 and Mas Ahmed an unbeaten 56 in a 2nd wicket stand of 163 that took Enfield to within 9 runs of victory.

Ruvin Peiris hit 118, his first century of the campaign as Church beat Todmorden in  a rain affected game at West End. The Sri Lankan hit 13 fours and a six with Adam Greenwood (32) and skipper Phil Sykes (28) lending good support as Church made 209-8. When the rain stopped Todmorden's reply at 153-6 after 39 overs they were 22 short of victory.

Opener Simon Newbitt was the only batsman in double figures, making 90 as Andrew Bentley took 4-56 for Church. Rishton went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of second placed Lowerhouse at Blackburn Road. The visitors made 225-7 with professional Kumar Dharmasena taking 4-53 for Rishton. His opposite number Andrew McDonald hit an unbeaten 89 and then took 5-42, including the vital wickets of Dharmasena (0) and Peter Sleep (19) as Rishton were bowled out for just 113. Richard Rostron top scored with 21.

On Saturday local Lancashire League derby games brought wins for Enfield and Rishton. Enfield inflicted a league record 16th successive defeat on Accrington by the slender margin of just 3 runs at Dill Hall Lane.

The home side made 207-6 with Alviro Petersen top scoring with 78 and Craig Fergusson hitting 43. Accrington professional Tama Canning took 4-75 and the New Zealander then hit 54 in a 2nd wickert stand of 88 with Mohsin Ahmed (41) to put Accrington in with an even chance of recording that elusive first win.

Impetuosity though got the better of them with skipper Matt Wilson hitting a swift 37 before attempting one big hit too many. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals with Stuart Crabtree (23) and Adam Wilson (27) getting the target down to 18 off the last two overs. It proved too much for Accrington with Mick Horsfield unbeaten on 13 unable to pull the match out of the fire for Accrington.

Half centuries from professional Kumar Dharmasena (64 not out) and Richard Rostron (64) took Rishton to an 8 wicket win at Church. Professional Ruvin Peiris made 52 in the home sides 169-8 with Phil Sykes (28), Mark Aspin (23) and Sam Tucker (19) chipping in. Rostron was also Rishton's best bowler with 3-31.

Nick Westwell removed opener Nick Winkley without scoring but Rostron and Dharmasena put on 104 to put Rishton back on top. After Rostron’s dismissal Peter Sleep took over with an unbeaten 31 to see Rishton home.

Hyndburn's three Ribblesdale League clubs had a great weekend with each club securing a convincing victory.

Great Harwood's stand in skipper Paul Houldsworth played a major role in his sides 75 run win at Padiham. Houldsworth hit 84 and then took 4-29 with professional Martin Nurse chipping in with 3-30 to atone for missing out with the bat as Padiham were bowled out for 150. Liam Deasey (43) and Geoff Allen (32) assisted Houldsworth in building a match winning total of 225-7 that enabled Harwood to draw level with Settle at the top of the table.

Baxenden took juts 26 overs to secure an 8 wicket win over Ribblesdale Wanderers at Back Lane. Indika Galle took 4-19 and Pete Usher 3-20 as the visitors were bolwed out for 116. Mark Rishton then hit 33 and Francois Herbst 38 as Baxenden raced to victory.

Oswaldtwistle Immanuel won for the second time this season. Gerard Metcalf's men had a 5 wicket win at Blackburn Northern, after the home side had made 178-9.