STAND travelled to Haslingden in the Inter League Knockout Cup and after winning the toss put Haslingden in to bat.

The home side made a positive start and reached 50 without loss in the 13th over.

The breakthrough finally came for Stand when Warren removed Read for 15. Stand then piled on the pressure and with some tight bowling from Warren, Duerden and professional Hegg, they restricted Haslingden to 105 for six.

Haslingden's late order rallied and they finished on 211 from their 45 overs. Warren finished with figures of one for two from his nine overs and Rick Valentine and Carl Sutcliffe took three wickets apiece, Sutcliffe claiming handsome figures of three for 25 off four overs.

Stand were always facing an uphill task and and an ever increasing run rate, but with some positive batting from Hegg, who hit an unbeaten 68, Warren with 38 and Valentine, who hit 31 not out, they were always in with a chance.

Unfortunately, Stand ran out of overs and finished 17 runs short of their target.

On Sunday Stand entertained Walsden at Hamilton Road. The home side won the toss and elected to bat. They reached 22 without loss, but then saw three wickets tumble without adding a run.

Chris Warren and Josh McLean, steadied the ship, building a 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Stand then crumbled to 104 all out from 78 for three. McLean top scored with 23, with Warren contributing 21.

Walsden's innings began with the loss of two wickets for just 17 runs. Unfortunately Stand were without the assistance of Chris Warren in the bowling attack due to injury. Mark Hodson and Matthew Dawson added 30 and 29 respectively and Walsden reached their target in the 40th over with the help of their professional Bandarathilake, who finished with 22 not out.

This weekend Stand travel to Heywood on Saturday and Oldham in the Wood Cup on Sunday.

NELSON elected to bat after travelling to Unsworth in the Inter League Knockout and winning the toss. Progress was slow and steady and at 106 for one after 27 overs Unsworth seemed to have contained Nelson.

The bowling and fielding was steady and Nelson were 139 for two with ten overs remaining when wickets began to fall. Nelson's final total of 170 all out didn't seem enough and Garaghey's 51 along with 49 from Scuderi were the only sizeable contributions.

The Unsworth bowling was steady, but again extras, including 15 wides, proved crucial in the final analysis.

When Unsworth replied, 49 for one off 17 overs seemed satisfactory, but some steady bowling stopped them in their tracks. Only professional Wanansinghe and vice-captain Manley with 40, including seven fours, made significant contributions and Unsworth fell 11 runs short of victory.

On Sunday Heywood featured in a game to savour at Unsworth.

There were 514 runs scored on a nice, sunny day. Honours were even and a very satisfied and excited crowd stayed until the bitter end to witness a most exciting finish off the last ball of the game.

One run required, one ball to go and the batsman run out going for it!

Unsworth professional Wanansinghe made 91, while Heywood's paid man Sugden hit 116.

Wickets were hard to come by on a hard track and some splendid middle order batting followed as Unsworth reached 71 for two off 19 overs.

Captain Entwistle, Webb, Manley and Jones all made sizeable scores. Jones 35 included two sixes in the last over, which produced 14 runs.

Heywood began very well whn they set about chasing the total, Their opening pair put on 163 before Wanansinghe bowled Cross.

Some excitement followed as Howarth claimed two wickets in one over as Greyvensteyn and Arnold disappeared for ducks and from 163 for 0, Heywood went to 164 for three.

Purser and professional Sugden took the score to 200 before Purser departed. Sugden went on to score his century and Heywood were 250 for six going into the last over.

A four was scored and there were two scrambled singles before the batsman was run out of the last ball.

TOBY McLean helped himself to three wickets as Radcliffe Cricket Club gained the first of two fine victories last weekend.

The Racecourse side got the nod over Lancashire League side Rawtenstall after bowling them all out and they progress to the next round of the Inter League Challenge Trophy as a result.

McLean, who is just finding his feet at Unsworth Street following his switch from Cheetham Hill last season, finished with impressive figures of three for 26 off his nine overs, including two maidens.

McLean wasn't the only bowler to impress though. Radcliffe's Holt also took three scalps, to finish with figures of three for 23 as Rawtenstall were bowled out for 132.

Bruce Cruse top scored with 54 and professional, Steve Dearden hit 30 as Radcliffe were held on 132 too in their reply. They lost eight wickets in doing so, but went through on the strength of having bowled Ratwenstall out.

It was back to Central Lancashire League action on Sunday, and Nick Kennedy was top man with 47, followed by Macauley, who hit 27, as Radcliffe set their stall out for what ended as a fine five-point win.

At home again, the Racecourse lads were bowled out for the relatively small target of 133 as Crompton's Wright wreaked havoc with the ball, claiming four scalps for just 30 runs.

Former Greenmount professional Saeed Anwar wasn't far behind with three wickets for 61 runs.

Their efforts paled into insignificance though when Radcliffe paid man Dearden got to work. He ripped through the Crompton batting to claim seven wickets for 26 as the visitors were bowled out for 55. Kennedy chipped in to collect the other three wickets for 20.