HUGH DOYLE produced a display of bowling his hero Ian Botham would have been proud of as East Lancs beat Church.

Doyle took 9 for 47 as the champions got home with three balls to spare at Alexandra Meadows.

It was the best amateur bowling performance of the season so far, and Doyle's career best - bettering his five for 16 against Colne earlier this season.

Church had made a splendid start, with captain Phil Sykes and professional Ravin Peiris putting 82 on the board for the first wicket.

But then Essex-born Doyle got into the groove, with a superb spell of bowling, helped by two excellent catches by sub-professional Shaun Adam from South Africa.

Phil Bolton led the reply in a rain-affected game and his 68 from 92 balls went a long way to securing the points.

Burnley professional Kerry Jeremy was also among the wickets, but he was to be frustrated by the weather.

Jeremy took 8 for 37 to help dismiss Rishton for 98, but the match was abandoned due to rain as Burnley looked certain victors.

Lowerhouse remain top of the league after beating Todmorden by eight wickets.

Todmorden got off to the worst possible start, losing opener Stuart Priestly and pro Gyan Pandey with just eight on the board.

The rally came from Dave Hatton and Matthew Brierley, but the Lowerhouse attack featuring newcomers Chris Benbow (3 for 41) and Saeed Riaz (2 for 42) kept the home side to 139-8.

The surprise league leaders looked to young Vishal Tripathi (31) and Jonathan Finch (44) to build the platform, and professional Peter Fulton (41) drove his side home with wickets to spare.

Nelson - inspired by Paul Garaghty and Martin Heap - edged past Haslingden to make it four wins from the opening five games.

Haslingden set a tough target of 205, with Steve Dearden hitting 57 and Kabir Khan weighing in with 42.

After a two-hour rain delay, Nelson were set a revised target of 141 from 26 overs, and it was big-hitting Heap (three sixes and two fours) who led the reply.

Bacup remain in second spot after easing past Accrington at Thorneyholme Road.

Professional Chris Simpson's 90 was his best knock for the club, and his first wicket stand of 126 with Peter Thompson put the away side in the driving seat.

It was Thompson's second half-century in succession.

Accrington professional Tama Canning claimed five wickets, but he was expensive, allowing Bacup to set a target of 218-7.

The home side were never at the races as David Ormerod and Simpson tore through the order. They claimed five wickets apiece in what is proving to be one of the league's most potent attacks.

Rawtenstall were the day's top scorers as they hammered Enfield by 190 runs at Bacup Road.

Professional Andrew Payne hit 12 fours in his 74 knock, and he was backed up by Peter Seal with 38.

But it was Seal's performance with the ball that took the honours. He took six wickets for 18 runs in a devastating display. Payne claimed the other four.

In the day's other game, professional Murali Kartik took six for 55 as Ramsbottom beat Colne by seven runs.

John Harrison hit an unbeaten 56 in Rammy's total of 157 for 6. The target was reduced to 146 from 45 overs due to rain.

But Colne's new professional Andre Adams, making his debut, couldn't inspire his side as Kartik took charge.