RED-HOT Radcliffe collected a superb ten-point haul with victories over Ashton and Middleton last weekend.

On Saturday at the Racecourse, Ashton were skittled out for just 65 runs as Toby McLean and Nick Kennedy helped themselves to four wickets apiece.

Openers Travis Birt and Steve Dearden knocked off the required runs without any bother at all, hitting 33 and 30 respectively as Radcliffe reached their target off just over 14 overs.

Radcliffe carried their excellent form into Sunday's game at Towncroft, but they can't have been over confident of victory after posting a total of 198 for the loss of five wickets.

Birt top scored with 55, but there were other solid batting displays from Dearden, Bruce Cruse, skipper Graeme Simpson and Damien Keegan, who all passed the 20 runs mark.

Highlight of the Radcliffe bowling attack was Fast Eddie Shah, who bagged a magnificent haul of six wickets for 67 runs as Middleton were bowled out for 153.

A great show indeed and one that re-established Radcliffe as a force to be reckoned with in the Central Lancashire League after their recent hiccups.

RADCLIFFE v ASHTON

Ashton

J Mellor b McLean...6

D Clinch b Kennedy...8

A Ridee c Simpson b Shah...10

J Selby b Kennedy...0

S Flaig b Kennedy...8

H Maisuria c Macauley b Dearden...8

S Ahmed c and b McLean...0

R Mooney b Kennedy...15

G Coles not out...3

K Mistry b McLean...0

M Ibrahim b McLean...0

Extras...7

---

Total...65

---

38.5 overs

J McLean 6.5-3-14-4; S Shah 11-4-18-1; N Kennedy 15-7-20-4; S Dearden 8-2-8-1.

Radcliffe

T Birt not out...33

S Dearden not out...30

Extras...4

---

Total (for 0)...67

---

14.2 overs

A Ridee 5-2-12-0; S Ahmed 5-0-23-0; M Ibrahim 2-0-11-0; D Clinch 2.2-0-17-0.

MIDDLETON v RADCLIFFE

Radcliffe

B Cruse c and b Wolstenholme...37

S Dearden run out...27

T Birt st Astley b Wolstenholme...55

G Simpson c Astley b Royal...21

D Keegan c Astley b Royal...21

A Gorsi not out...11

N Kennedy not out...5

Extras...21

---

Total (for 5)...198

---

50 overs

S Disilva 13-1-52-0; L Wolstenholme 19-2-68-2; J Punchard 6-0-22-0; A Graham 6-0-22-0; D Royal 6-0-23-2.

Middleton

A Travis b Dearden...6

S Davey b Shah...6

S Brierley c Macauley b Shah...11

S Disilva c Macauley b Shah...16

J Ryan c Macauley b Shah...9

J Punchard b Shah...55

D Royal lbw Kennedy...5

A Graham run out...27

L Wolstenholme b Dearden...7

T Astley not out...3

P Tomlinson c Macauley b Shah...0

Extras...8

---

Total...153

---

45.3 overs

J McLean 5-2-6-0; S Shah 22.3-6-67-6; S Dearden 14-1-43-2; N Kennedy 4-0-34-1.