RAIN equalled relief for Rishton and left East Lancs' championship aspirations all but washed out.

Generally, the feeling of anti-climax was crushing.

This was scheduled to be the Lancashire League "decider," reigning champions confronting their main challengers and fiercest rivals.

But when you can rely on little else you can rely on the weather to muscle in as an unwelcome, non-paying guest.

East Lancs were just one over - six balls or four minutes - from forcing a positive result when light drizzle turned to persistent rain and frustration set in. Now the ball is firmly in Rishton's court and nothing will be settled until the final afternoon of an absorbing season.

Absorbing? A fitting description too of how the events unfolded on a tense afternoon at Blackburn Road yesterday with a crowd of around 1,000 (gate: £1,119) gathered to witness a cricket match for cricket fans. Not a crash bang wallop slog for those who attend cricket for late drinking reasons, but a gripping encounter with some magical moments - including Allan Donald reaching the 100 wickets mark, a gutsy innings from the visiting skipper Mark Lomas, a superb bowling spell from the lesser known of the two professionals, Billy Stelling, and a catch to rival any you will see from Paul Kelly.

East Lancs knew Rishton have run-chasing problems, hence their decision to bat first. But the plan backfired - at least early on.

Both openers back in the pavilion for 18 (courtesy of Donald) didn't represent the best of starts and when a Donald firecracker uprooted Stelling's leg stump with the score on 26, Rishton were coasting.

Lomas and young Phil Bolton steadied the ship before Bolton, beaten by pace, became the "ton" victim for the fastest bowler in the world off the fifth ball of his lucky 13th over.

But Nas Iqbal and Kelly saw to it that dogged East Lancs forced a respectable total and a target of 137 was never going to be achieved with comfort. Stelling, perhaps keen not to be over-shadowed, was certainly up for it.

Wharton eventually fell to Stelling - Dave Pearson snapping up a sharp catch at gully - before Craig Smith was brilliantly caught by Kelly running in at full tilt from extra cover to dive forward and snap up no more than a half chance off Ian Haworth. At 54 for three and with 26 overs gone the umpires decided to call a halt. They had played on in drizzle for some time and it was clearly not going to get much better.

But one over short of the crucial 27 was never going to thrill the visiting fans who felt their team had the game if not in the bag then certainly within grasp. For 75 minutes everyone held on sky-watching - some in hope of a re-start, others with the opposite in mind.

East Lancs could claim a moral victory, Rishton would have needed 26 off that last over to have won on run rate. But, set against that, the home side might have won outright had the game gone the distance. Who knows? All ifs and buts and maybes but the East Lancs' skipper was man enough to concede that the umpires had acted with wisdom - and diplomacy.

As for Rishton, captain Wharton commented: "East Lancs can feel disappointed, but it would not have been fair on us to carry on and Mark (Lomas) agreed.

"We would all have preferred to see the contest run its course without rain, but such has been the story of the season."

The last word though to Donald: "My personal goal at the start was 100 wickets and I am delighted to have done it. The collective aim is the title and we have now got to finish the job next weekend."

There is a certain run-machine at Colne standing right in the way, but Rishton have got to be favourites to retain the trophy.

It could, however, end up all square and if a "play-off" is required it will be staged at Church the following week. By then it'll probably be snowing...

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