JOE Scuderi continued his magnificent form for Colne in Saturday's scorching sunshine as four of the top five in the EW Cartons Lancashire League won and Haslingden were involved in a dramatic tie at Todmorden.

He underlined precisely why he is rated the Lancashire League's form man of the moment.

Scuderi inspired Colne to a demolition job on Rawtenstall with one of the season's truly outstanding all-round efforts.

After smashing 130 not out (16 fours and a six) at a rate of one a ball, Scuderi then picked up four cheap wickets to dismiss Rawtenstall for a paltry 70, chasing 254.

Centre Vale regulars have already seen a new league runs record this season and batsmen were dominant again when Haslingden were the visitors.

League officials, in fact, are checking the records again to see if three individual centuries have ever been recorded in one game before.

Paul Blackledge (100 not out) was the Haslingden man to hit three figures, with nine fours and four sixes in a tremendous knock.

He shared a stand of 103 for the third wicket with Michael Ingham (82), who managed 13 fours and a six, and, with professional Brad McNamara helping himself to 50, Haslingden rattled up a formidable 284-6.

But Todmorden had their own heroes in the shape of skipper Richard Baigent (111), run out off the last ball of the game going for the two runs that would have secured victory, and professional Brendan Nash, whose 105 included nine fours, three sixes and took only 98 balls. Baigent shared a magnificent second-wicket stand of 208 with the pro and hit 15 fours and three sixes.

It was a terrific game which could have gone either way.

Champions Nelson were given few problems by Rishton at Seedhill, despite losing the toss.

Rishton got off to a painfully slow start, were bogged down by an accurate Nelson attack and their eventual score of 145-6 never looked like being enough.

Professional Paul Wiseman (46) had another decent score but was unable to go up the gear that the team's innings needed.

Roger Harper was as economical as ever and took five of the six wickets to fall.

Nelson lost a couple of early wickets but they were steered to the verge of what proved to be a comfortable victory by Paul Garaghty's 73, as he took his time to ensure the 10 points.

The only bonus for Rishton was a bowling appearance for batsman Neil Wells. His slow-left armers brought him his first wickets in senior cricket, including the scalp of Garaghty.

Ball dominated bat at Alexandra Meadows with both East Lancs and Bacup finding concentration necessary to score runs. The home team's 157 eventually proved too much as Bacup came unstuck against a fiercely competitive attack and some excellent fielding.

Andy Clague (82) was the East Lancs batting hero, the opener being last man out from an invaluable anchor role which lasted 159 deliveries. He hit a dozen boundaries and, as the scorecard shows, his team would have been in dire straits without him.

Bacup battled well, David Ormerod taking three wickets in a lengthy and economical stint and professional Brad White proved hard to get away. But the visiting batsmen also found runs scarce. White (30) and Peter Thompson (41) shared an encouraging second-wicket stand of 44 and, at 82-2 and 107-4, they must have felt they were in with a chance.

Home pro Claude Henderson, however, had other ideas and was once again the star of the East Lancs attack as Bacup crumbled to 129 all out.

Henderson finished with 6-47 and had fine support from the other bowlers and fielders.

Accrington's tail wagged in terrific fashion against Lowerhouse but eventually to no avail.

Tariq Hussain (49) and Zahir Afzal (42 not out) shared a club record stand of 85 for the eighth wicket as they unsuccessfully chased a Lowerhouse score of 173-9.

Chris Bleazard's 65, including nine boundaries, was largely responsible for Lowerhouse's respectable total and the visitors looked to be on their way to an easy win when Jez Hope (7-73) started to get among the wickets.

But, from 50-7, Accrington revived dramatically, thanks to the tail-enders. If Hussain had managed to achieve his half century they might well have gone on to win but they were eventually dismissed for 161 after a brave effort.

Stand-in skipper Dave Saker led Enfield to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Ramsbottom at Acre Bottom.

Neil Holmes was the Enfield hero with the ball, claiming 6-60, as the home side were skittled for a paltry 125.

And Aussie pro Saker ensured his team had no trouble in knocking them off with an unbeaten 61 as Enfield reached 126-3 with 13 overs to spare.

Church were embarrassed at Burnley on Saturday but without Peter Gilrane they would have been totally humiliated. Gilrane scored a spirited undefeated 21 and shared a last wicket partnership of 20 with last man Nick Westwell to take Church to a meagre total off just 46.

James Anderson had dismissed the top three Church batsmen for ducks and at one point seven wickets had fallen with just 16 runs on the board.

Add to the gloom the fact that 11 of the Church total came from extras and you can understand why the visitors held an inquest afterwards.

Anderson bowled superbly early on while professional Anthony Botha chipped in with six wickets at two apiece.

Botha was the only wicket to fall in Burnley's reply and the game was all over shortly after 4pm, the home side taking just 12.2 overs to record their easiest win for some time.

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