It couldn't be any tighter at the top of the Alliance 2000 League with both our teams locked on the same number of points.

Our 'B' team joined the 'A' team in joint first place with 143 points after our first string lost their first match of the season.

While the 'B' team were beating Worth Avenue -- recording their highest score of the season of 282 -- the 'A' team lost a thriller against Taverners at Towneley Park.

For while 'B' team recorded their highest score of the season, the 'A' team recorded their lowest after being bowled out for 81.

There was a real nail-biting finish to the match which saw Taverners requiring one run off the last ball.

And it was their veteran Bill Swift who got it -- what a time to come out of retirement!

Our umpire Harold Ashworth was again in the thick of the action when he declared a no ball from pace bowler Hafiz Nasir -- despite hitting the wicket and bowling out the batsman!

Despite our protests, our own Dicky Bird said that the ball was above the shoulder of the batsman and it may have swung in air and hit the wicket. We had to agree with his ruling.

Hafiz now knows not to dare swing the ball in the air which is above the shoulder length!

On the junior front, I am proud to say that young gun Amaad Hussain is in the Burnley under 15s team that will play in the county finals at Old Trafford next month.

Naturally, we are delighted of Amaad has achieved and we wll be doing our best to travel to Old Trafford to see him in action.

And more good news is that Hafiz Nasir has been selected to play in Burnley Seconds.

He is the second player, after Amaad Hussain who plays for Lowerhouse Thirds, to get the chance to compete at a higher level.

We wish them all the best and we will continue to promote young and talented players to make progress to play for Lancashire and England.