NELSON'S second successive Lancashire League title is theirs for the taking after another scintillating display from Roger Harper blew East Lancs' championship challenge to smithereens.

The West Indian spin-king was simply awesome as the home side wrapped up an eight wicket victory with 29 overs to spare in an embarssingly one-sided affair at sun-drenched Seedhill.

And Duncan Spencer's men now need just four more points from their final game against Rawtenstall at the weekend to be certain of entering the 21st Century with their 21st Lancashire League title.

"If we'd have lost this one we would have been out of it," said Harper.

"But now it's up to us, it's in our hands."

Seedhill buzzed with expectation as the league's top two squared up for what promised to be an epic scrap.

But Harper obviously hadn't read the script and this mis-match was more like a contest between Mike Tyson and Mr Blobby than a clash between two heavyweights by the close.

The men from the Meadows must be sick of the sight of the West Indies A team manager.

On the opening day of the season he put them to the sword with a brilliant spell of 5-18 as Phil Mercer's men were ousted for 55 and Nelson wrapped up a nine-wicket win. This time he pocketed 7-24, including 4-0 in two devastating overs, as East Lancs were toppled for 86 on a track which looked like a batsman's paradise.

Then Harper had the audacity to assume the role of flat-track bully, thumping the East Lancs attack to all corners of the ground, in a fine exhibition of calypso cricket as Nelson rattled off the runs with the minimum of fuss.

After a few early jitters, Andy Clague (18) and skipper Phil Mercer (16) looked to have laid the foundations for a respectable total.

But once birthday boy Danny Kegg broke the partnership, Harper took centre stage.

Professional Claude Henderson and Paul Turner both perished in the same over.

Mercer and Jan Van Boeckel met a similar fate as Harper made it four victims in two overs as East Lancs slumped from 48-2 to 49-6.

Some late resistance from Chris Riley (20) and Nasir Iqbal (13) hauled the visitors into the 80s.

But Kegg finally wrapped up the innings with two late victims as East Lancs crumbled to a feeble 86 all out.

Surprisingly, Henderson opted to bowl from the opposite end to where Harper achieved his success.

But he struck an early blow, trapping opener Craig Walton leg before with just two on the board.

All that did was bring Harper to the crease, though, and he quickly signalled his intentions by slapping his first ball through mid-on for four. A savage cover drive off Iqbal was rapidly followed by another hefty blow over long-on off Henderson as the West Indian slipped into top gear.

And Iqbal then suffered the indignity of being put away for four successive fours an over later as Harper threatened to run riot.

Not to be outdone, Duncan Spencer also cut loose with a couple of flashing drives of his own before he went with 10 still needed.

But Harper and Paul Garraghty saw the job through and only Nelson can throw the title away now.

"It looked easy in the end but East Lancs are a good side, they were top of the table going into this match and we came prepared for a hard game," said Harper.

"It just so happened that things went our way and we managed to bowl them out for a low total on a good pitch.

"There was a bit of turn in the wicket but there wasn't a tremendous amount of bounce.

"I just thought if we could be consistent and not give them any easy runs then we could perhaps pressure them into giving their wickets away.

"That spell of four wickets in two overs was obviously a factor.

"But Danny Kegg also bowled very well at the other end and that built up the pressure."

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