SHAHID Nawaz is still hoping to celebrate a double success after writing his name into the Ribblesdale League record books as the league's most prolific run-scorer.

The Ribblesdale Wanderers batsman surpassed Ian Wrigglesworth's record aggregate of 1,360 runs set in 1994 when he made another half-century against former club Read on Saturday.

But just as importantly Nawaz's contribution kept Wanderers in the title hunt with one game to go.

"That was the main target, to win the game," insisted the Pakistani professional. "We are keeping our fingers crossed that if Padiham lose we can win it."

Wanderers need to bank maximum points at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel in their final game next Saturday, while hoping that leaders Padiham lose to Great Harwood whose only target now is a Lancashire Cup place.

Joint second-placed Clitheroe, for whom professional Jonathan Fielding has now taken 108 wickets, are in the same boat and must win at Blackburn Northern.

Wanderers' charge into title contention has come on the back of 10 straight wins, during which time Nawaz has made seven half-centuries and an unbeaten 151.

Of his 1,372 league runs, 708 have come in that purple patch which have enabled the Clitheroe club to stay the course. Nawaz, who also made an unbeaten century in the Vaux Ramsbottom Cup, scored 1,224 runs for Read two years ago and despite some bad weather this summer has had the record in his sights for the past few weeks.

"I was hoping I could do it. I was a bit nervous on Saturday and had a bit of shaky start but after about five or 10 overs I was okay.

"The main problem was that we were missing five players which was the main pressure on me," he added. Nawaz, who missed the first game of the season, broke the record when he reached 50 and then added 12 more as Wanderers secured a six-wicket win.

He has had a more prolific English season, making 1,680 runs in the Huddersfield League in 1995, but given the amount of rain around this summer it has been a phenomenal effort.

He will be back at Church Meadow again next summer which is good news for Wanderers, if not the rest of the league, as they bid to build on this season's success - whether they win the title or not.

"That's what we are aiming for, with a better side and a couple more good batsman," said Nawaz who will return with an even greater weight of expectation on his shoulders.

"I have just got used to taking the pressure. I will come back and play my normal game," he added with a domestic season with Habib Bank in Pakistan awaiting him after Saturday's decisive final day.

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