CRICKET: Lancashire League round-up

Ben Johnson (49) and Gary Hunt (46) made a solid opening and late on Gary Laycock (31) and Jeff Ellis (25) helped Colne reach 177-7, despite Keith Arthurton's 5-44.

However, Nelson captain Duncan Spencer led from the front with an unbeaten 51 to guide his side to a six-wicket win.

He was well-supported by his team mates, all grabbing quick runs whenever they could.

Arthurton made 34 before becoming one of Johnson's three victims and Paul Garaghty and Trevor Kegg both made 22 -- although Kegg survived a dropped catch.

With two overs left, Nelson needed 10 to win which proved no problem as a four from Marcus Phelan knocked their local rivals off the top spot.

Church took advantage to go top after their seventh win of the season -- and boosted hopes they could secure their first league title since 1962.

After their Worsley Cup quarter-final success on Saturday, Rishton proved no problem for the in-form Church side, Alec Holt the star of the Blackburn Road side's innings with 87.

Rishton's Neil Wells took six wickets but Church amassed 170-9.

Rishton were always struggling, quickly reduced to 81-7, and despite a last wicket stand from John Davies and Paul Clifford they were all out for 93 to hand Church a maximum 12 point haul.

East Lancashire and Todmorden produced a tie at Centre Vale as Todmorden number 10 James Morgan hit two runs off the final ball from professional Claude Henderson to secure a share of the spoils.

Chasing East Lancashire's 172-3, the home side looked to be cruising to victory as Richard Baigent and Alex Scholefield both hit half-centuries at the top of the order.

Baigent passed 50 in 88 balls with six fours before falling with the score on 109 and Scholefield followed for 60 at 145 with his half-century coming in 101 balls with six boundaries.

Todmorden had needed 29 off the last nine overs with eight wickets in hand but Henderson followed up his unbeaten 57 with six wickets as he applied the brakes and sparked a lower order collapse.

Going into the last over needing four to win, Todmorden managed just a single from Henderson's first five deliveries before Morgan pierced the field to level the scores.

Earlier, Henderson and skipper Phil Mercer had shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 110 as Henderson passed 50 in 84 balls with seven fours and Mercer took just 74 balls to post his half-century which included six boundaries.

Bacup and Ramsbottom were also involved in a tie as Bacup's last pair scrambled six off the final over to match Ramsbottom's 122 all out, in which Adam Dale took 7-54.

David Ormerod needed two to win off the last ball from Mick Haslam. Ormerod swung and missed but Richard Hevingham's throw just missed the stumps as Neil Wilkinson made his ground. Brad Hodge collected the loose ball and almost ran out Ormerod but in a final dramatic twist it took a diving stop from skipper Mark Price to stop an overthrow and keep the scores level.

Earlier, Rambsottom had collapsed from 50-1 to 54-5 before Mike Dentith and Julian Marcroft repaired the damage in the face of the onslaught from Dale.

The Australian professional then top-scored with 30 in the Bacup reply. But with Lee Daggett taking 4-50 and Haslam 5-47 a fluctuating contest went to the wire.

Amateur bowler Ian Cameron was the star of Haslingden's crushing seven wicket victory over Rawtenstall.

Cameron was simply irresistible as he snapped up 7-28 in a blistering spell as the visitors slumped to 55 all out.

And Rawtenstall's fate could have been far worse had it not been for a valiant 26 from Brian Greenwood.

Haslingden, who had Queenslander Clinton Perrin standing in for professional Paul Strang, had few problems in knocking them off. Mark Griffin led the way with an unbeaten 23 as the home side cruised to their victory target inside 22 overs.

Lowerhouse bounced back from their Worsley Cup defeat on Saturday with a thrilling five wicket victory over arch-rivals Burnley at Liverpool Road.

Batting first, Burnley set an imposing total of 180-6 off their 50 overs thanks to the efforts of their top four.

David Brown led the way with a stylish 51 and he was well supported by Paul Killian's 46 and professional Geoff Foley's 45.

However, opener Nicky Hope was in imperious form as Lowerhouse launched their reply.

His unbeaten 78 and a quickfire 50 from South African pro Martin van Jaarsveld ensured the home side passed Burnley's total with eight balls to spare to secure maximum points.

Mark Greenhalgh will remember for some time a glorious return to Accrington after guiding Enfield to a five wicket success.

Strike bowler Greenhalgh, once on the playing staff at Thorneyholme Road, ripped through the Accrington early order to end up with the impressive figures of 5-29 which included the prize scalp of home professional Nathan Astle for just three.

A seventh wicket stand of 27 between Michael Wilson and Tariq Hussain enabled Accrington to make part recovery after an appalling start but 95 never looked a total to worry Enfield.

That said the visitors needed all but five of their allotted overs and Astle did his best to make life tough picking up four wickets and conceding just 44 runs from 23 impressive overs. DEFENDING Transco Lancashire League champions Nelson re-ignited their title challenge by defeating leaders Colne.

Ben Johnson (49) and Gary Hunt (46) made a solid opening and late on Gary Laycock (31) and Jeff Ellis (25) helped Colne reach 177-7, despite Keith Arthurton's 5-44.

However, Nelson captain Duncan Spencer led from the front with an unbeaten 51 to guide his side to a six-wicket win.

He was well-supported by his team mates, all grabbing quick runs whenever they could.

Arthurton made 34 before becoming one of Johnson's three victims and Paul Garaghty and Trevor Kegg both made 22 -- although Kegg survived a dropped catch.

With two overs left, Nelson needed 10 to win which proved no problem as a four from Marcus Phelan knocked their local rivals off the top spot.

Church took advantage to go top after their seventh win of the season -- and boosted hopes they could secure their first league title since 1962.

After their Worsley Cup quarter-final success on Saturday, Rishton proved no problem for the in-form Church side, Alec Holt the star of the Blackburn Road side's innings with 87.

Rishton's Neil Wells took six wickets but Church amassed 170-9.

Rishton were always struggling, quickly reduced to 81-7, and despite a last wicket stand from John Davies and Paul Clifford they were all out for 93 to hand Church a maximum 12 point haul.

East Lancashire and Todmorden produced a tie at Centre Vale as Todmorden number 10 James Morgan hit two runs off the final ball from professional Claude Henderson to secure a share of the spoils.

Chasing East Lancashire's 172-3, the home side looked to be cruising to victory as Richard Baigent and Alex Scholefield both hit half-centuries at the top of the order.

Baigent passed 50 in 88 balls with six fours before falling with the score on 109 and Scholefield followed for 60 at 145 with his half-century coming in 101 balls with six boundaries.

Todmorden had needed 29 off the last nine overs with eight wickets in hand but Henderson followed up his unbeaten 57 with six wickets as he applied the brakes and sparked a lower order collapse.

Going into the last over needing four to win, Todmorden managed just a single from Henderson's first five deliveries before Morgan pierced the field to level the scores.

Earlier, Henderson and skipper Phil Mercer had shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 110 as Henderson passed 50 in 84 balls with seven fours and Mercer took just 74 balls to post his half-century which included six boundaries.

Bacup and Ramsbottom were also involved in a tie as Bacup's last pair scrambled seven runs together to match Ramsbottom's 122 all out, in which Adam Dale took 7-54.

Dale also top-scored with 30 in Bacup's reply but with Mick Haslam (5-47) and Lee Daggett (4-50) sharing nine wickets, the hosts could only share the points.

Amateur bowler Ian Cameron was the star of Haslingden's crushing seven wicket victory over Rawtenstall.

Cameron was simply irresistible as he snapped up 7-28 in a blistering spell as the visitors slumped to 55 all out.

And Rawtenstall's fate could have been far worse had it not been for a valiant 26 from Brian Greenwood.

Haslingden, who had Queenslander Clinton Perrin standing in for professional Paul Strang, had few problems in knocking them off.

Mark Griffin led the way with an unbeaten 23 as the home side cruised to their victory target inside 22 overs.

Lowerhouse bounced back from their Worsley Cup defeat on Saturday with a thrilling five wicket victory over arch-rivals Burnley at Liverpool Road.

Batting first, Burnley set an imposing total of 180-6 off their 50 overs thanks to the efforts of their top four.

David Brown led the way with a stylish 51 and he was well supported by Paul Killian's 46 and professional Geoff Foley's 45.

However, opener Nicky Hope was in imperious form as Lowerhouse launched their reply.

His unbeaten 78 and a quickfire 50 from South African pro Martin van Jaarsveld ensured the home side passed Burnley's total with eight balls to spare to secure maximum points.

Mark Greenhalgh will remember for some time a glorious return to Accrington after guiding Enfield to a five wicket success.

Strike bowler Greenhalgh, once on the playing staff at Thorneyholme Road, ripped through the Accrington early order to end up with the impressive figures of 5-29 which included the prize scalp of home professional Nathan Astle for just three.

A seventh wicket stand of 27 between Michael Wilson and Tariq Hussain enabled Accrington to make part recovery after an appalling start but 95 never looked a total to worry Enfield.

That said the visitors needed all but five of their allotted overs and Astle did his best to make life tough picking up four wickets and conceding just 44 runs from 23 impressive overs.