DESPITE a mounting injury crisis, Ramsbottom won both of their Lancashire League fixtures with a minimum of fuss.

Playing without the experienced Brian Taylor and opener Alex Bell, the Rams decided to only risk their half-fit professional Kartik for one game and former Pakistani Test opening bowler Ata ur Rehmann was drafted in for the Saturday game with Rishton.

The Rams may have been up against it but they made a great start when opening bowler Mick Haslam bowled the dangerous Eccles with the first delivery of the game.

He went on to take six wickets, including that of Rishton's Kiwi professional Franklin.

Unfortunately, his bowling colleagues were unable to give him the necessary back-up and the home side were allowed to post a total of 170 all out; having been 82-7 at one point.

Any doubts about the Acre Bottom lads struggling to reach Rishton's target were soon dispelled by an excellent opening partnership from Simon Read and Keith Webb.

They took the total to 72 before Read was dismissed and Webb was joined by an equally impressive Dave Bell.

The score soon went passed 100 with Webb making a well deserved half century before he was unluckily dismissed attempting a sweep shot.

This brought the sub professional to the wicket and the Pakistani struggled to score runs as Bell played a series of fluent strokes at the other end.

However, Rehmann did find his feet and smashed 22 of one over before Bell stroked the winning runs.

Sunday heralded another fine day and Ramsbottom entertained Burnley before an excellent crowd.

Ram skipper Hevingham elected to bat on what liked a good batting wicket and a steady start was abruptly ended by visiting West Indian professional Kerry Jeremy.

Read and Bell then repaired the damage before Read was unlucky to be caught behind.

Kartik soon followed and when Bell holed out, the Rams looked shaky at 87-4 with 21 overs remaining.

The in-form John Harrison joined Mark Dentith at the crease and the crowd were treated to some powerful batting.

The pair enjoyed an unbroken partnership of 131 to take the Rams total to a challenging 218.

Burnley's task looked even more difficult when Kartik had the opposition skipper caught behind for eight and it was clear the Indian spinner was looking fitter than the day previous.

Burnley's hopes rested firmly on the shoulders of the talented John Clare and he looked in good nick as he raced into the forties before Kartik deceived him with another piece of wizardry.

By this time, Chris Eardley had been brought into the attack and it was his turn to produce the goods as he took his first senior five-wicket haul to condemn Burnley to defeat.

The Rams entertain Nelson tomorrow and travel to Bacup on Sunday.