AKRAM Raza is hoping to break Read's barren spell of 22 years without lifting the Jennings Ribblesdale League title.

It was 1979 when the Whalley Road side last clinched the championship but, currently lying second in the table, the omens so far look good for this season.

And Pakistan pro Raza is hopeful that this could be their year-- but knows one big scalp to claim along the way is current league leaders Cherry Tree.

The two clash at Whalley Road tomorrow -- and Raza is looking forward to seeing fellow Pakistani, and Cherry Tree paid man, Naeem Ashraf.

"It is friendly rivaly between us," laughed Raza. "We are friends from back home."

Raza has made a big impact so far this season for Read. In last Saturday's victory over Clitheroe he hit 117 before taking 3-45 to keep the pressure on the league leaders.

"I am still settling in at the moment, it is only my first season, it's taken me a few matches but now I look forward to every match," he said.

"I have done quite well so far and have been happy with my performances. It is a very competitive league. There are two or three teams up there at the moment but it is too early to say what will happen. "There is a long way still to go but hopefully the boys can keep doing the same thing.

"If we do there is no reason why we can't break that 22-year-old record.

"And I would love to in my first season here."

Cherry Tree only have to look back to 1997 for their last championship and they will see victory over Read as a chance to increase their gap at the top. Paid man Ashraf has again been impressive this season. His top tally so far has been an unbeaten 72 but he has chipped in with three and four wickets as his side set a hot pace.

Meanwhile Settle are back in action after their games were called off because of the foot and mouth outbreak. They travel to Edenfield tomorrow.

TOMORROW'S GAMES: Barnoldswick v Whalley, Baxenden v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Earby v Clitheroe, Edenfield v Settle, Padiham v Blackburn Northern, Read v Cherry Tree, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Great Harwood.