A MAGNIFICENT performance on Saturday earned Radcliffe a ten-wicket win in the Central Lancashire League, but they were denied a possible weekend double the next day when rain was more troublesome than Royton.

Two bowlers did the damage when Ashton visited the Racecourse for the opening game, professional Steve Dearden taking 6 for 35 and Stuart Kelley 4 for 25 as the opposition were skittled out for 95 in 26.5 overs.

Two batsmen, Mellor and Gaskin, threatened to spoil the party with a third wicket stand worth 57 runs but once they had been parted there was little or no opposition.

Bruce Cruse and Mike Ramsbottom were first to the crease for Radcliffe and 19.1 overs later they were still there and the winning total was on the scoreboard, ten 4s helping in the swift assassination.

Two stoppages for rain at Royton the next day interrupted the Radcliffe innings and possibly denied Cruse a century for he was unbeaten on 95 after 40 overs when the total was 190 for 3.

Home opener Brierley (50 not out) and number three batsman Wainwright, who faced 62 deliveries for just seven runs, put the brakes on for more than an hour, a decisive stand as the home side struggled to 118 for 5 in 43 overs.

MARK MANLEY'S unbeaten 38 and professional Pasan Wanansinghe's haul of three wickets for 48 runs wasn't enough to prevent Unsworth slipping to a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Littleborough on Saturday.

Batting first, Unsworth reached a total of 115, with Alan Howarth chipping in with 19.

Littleborough's star man was veteran Chris Dearden. Batting at number five he hit a fine unbeaten 37 to take his side to victory.

Unsworth were lucky to be able to stage the game in the first place. The seagulls were bathing on the square at 9am on Saturday morning with heavy rain falling.

A 29-over game began at 3.30pm and a tight game it proved, with the number of extras given away by Unsworth during the Littleborough innings proving decisive.

On Sunday at Ashton there was another reduced overs affair, but this time Unsworth scored a respectable 185 for five with only one wicket being captured by the Ashton bowlers, the others were run out.

Wanansinghe scored an unbeaten century including 12 fours and a six and has certainly earned his keep this season.

Wanansighe also took five wickets in the Ashton innings, concluded by a splendid catch by Chris Warren.

A victory margin of two runs made for a tense situation, but also a very acceptable one from Unsworth's point of view.

FORMER Pakistan international Asif Mustaba took eight for 24 as Norden brushed aside Stand's top order.

His superb spell of bowling left Stand all out for just 79 with only Najib Wahid, who hit 46, doing himself justice.

The North brothers, Simon and Andy, made light work of the target, Andy smashing 55 as the pair wrapped it up in just 16 overs before a thunderstorm hit accommpanied by torrential rain.

On Sunday the Central Lancashire League leaders Middleton descended on Hamilton Road and hammered their way to 190 for seven in their 50 overs.

Stand didn't get a look-in at that target. They were all back inside the pavilion inside 20 overs, dismissed for 24.

Middleton's Sri Lankan professional, Reuvin Peiris hit 42, Steve Davey with 38 and Warren Teall (35) were the leaders with the bat for Middleton as they helped the score along, despite Haider's best efforts that saw him send down nine maidens in 13 overs.

Middleton took early wickets and Stand were always struggling after this.

Middleton collected the five points to bring the championship trophy closer to Towncroft.