PADIHAM kept up their challenge at the top of the Vaux Ribblesdale League table with stand-in professional Steve Titchard leading the way with 72.

Edenfield could find no answer to the home side's 176-8 and were dismissed for just 73 runs with Stephen Gee taking four wickets for eight runs.

Padiham pro Mark Harvey was helping England out in the field at Old Trafford as 12th man.

Barnoldswick slipped heavily at home to Settle. They were dismissed for 82, Settle pro Surendra Bhave taking five wickets, and then saw the Dalesmen romp to a seve wicket win.

Cherry Tree were bowled out for 167 with Jonathon Fielding taking six wickets for 44 runs.

But the champions hit back by restricting Clitheroe to 116-8.

Read were on big hitting form when they travelled to Earby's Applegarth ground.

Terry Little rattled up a 62 and professional Ibrahim scored 89 not out as they set a target of 212-6. Earby fell behind the run rate despite an impressive innings of 39 from Chris Walton.

Oswaldtwistle Immanual took maximum points from their encounter with Blackburn Northern. Gerard Metcalf took 5-29 as the visitors were bowled out for 100 and Oswaldtwistle took a seven wicket win.

Great Harwood were shot out for 85 by Ribblesdale Wanderers who went on to secure an eight wicket win. Professional Nawaz Hussain captured 5-30 and scored 59 not out with the bat.

Whalley took seven points from Baxenden with Darryl Redhead scoring 60 in the home side's innings and Jason Smith took 6-41 as Baxenden were dismissed for 105.

Scores: Barnoldswick 82, Settel 83-3 (7 pts); Cherry Tree 167 (5), Clitheroe 116-8 (2); Earby 150-7, Read 212-6 (5); Oswaldtwistle 104-3 (7), Blackburn Northern 100; Padiham 176-8 (7), Edenfield 73; Ribblesdale Wanderers 87-2 (7), Great Harwood 85; Whalley 142-9 (7), Baxenden 105.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.