MARK HADFIELD helped Cherry Tree hang on to the coat tails of Read at the top of the Veka Ribblesdale League.

Hadfield scored 76 as the Blackburn club pulled off a four-wicket victory over Clitheroe. Earlier Andrew Kenyon had scored 68 as the Ribble Valley club set a target of 209-8.

Barnoldswick's Sri Lankan professional was on top form, scoring 117 with the bat before picking up 4-47 as they beat Whalley. Kalatunga led his team to victory after Mark Whelan had scored 66 for Whalley.

Read pulled even further ahead at the top of the table. They are now nine points clear of the pack after former Earby player Craig Walton scored 80 against his old club. Read professional Danny Law scored 66 before stepping in with 5-35 as Earby were shot out for 101.

Robin Morris raced to 132 as Settle piled on the runs to finish on 244-5 with Mark Verden scoring 64. Blackburn struggled to 87 with Stuart Hornby taking four wickets.

There were also plenty of runs at The Arbories where professional Kasif Siddique scored 138 and Umar Saddique scored 92 as Padiham set a target of 270-7. Baxenden were 170-9 with their last man surviving an appeal with two balls to go.

Oswaldtwistle had the edge ain a low scoring match with Edenfield. They scored 124-9 with Liam Bones taking 6-59. Edenfield were dismissed for 90.

Martin Briggs scored 58 as Ribblesdale Wanderers set a target of 208-8. Great Harwood won the chase for runs, finishing 215-6.

Results -- Senior League: Clitheroe 209-8 (0) Cherry Tree 213-6 (5); Oswaldtwistle Imm 124-9 (7) Edenfield 90 (0); Padiham 270-7 (5) Baxenden 170-9 (0); Read 255-7 (7) Earby 101 (0); Ribblesdale W 208-6 (0) Great Harwood 215-6 (5); Settle 244-5 (7) Blackburn N 87 (0); Whalley 173-9 (0) Barnoldswick 202-9 (5).

TABLE

P W L A Bp Pen Pts

Read... 12 12 0 0 22 0 82

Bdwick... 5 4 1 0 4 0 24

Cherry Tr... 5 4 1 0 4 0 24

Settle... 5 4 1 0 2 0 22

Ribb Wdrs... 5 3 2 0 2 0 17

Gt Harwood... 5 3 2 0 2 0 17

Bbn Nrthrn... 5 2 2 1 4 0 16

Clitheroe... 5 2 2 1 2 0 14

Oswle Imm... 5 2 3 0 4 0 14

Padiham... 5 2 3 0 2 0 12

Baxenden... 5 1 4 0 2 0 7

Earby... 12 1 11 0 2 0 7

Edenfield... 5 1 4 0 0 0 5

Whalley... 5 0 5 0 0 0 0