IN the skilful hands of Read professional Shahid Nawaz lies the destiny of this year's Ramsbottom Cup.

Others no doubt still have a part to play, such as James Peterson, the Barnoldswick pro who has with unswerving single-mindedness transformed his side from also-rans into genuine league title contenders.

And Nick Marsh, the Read batsman who, along with Nawaz, briskly took his team to 91 for one in reply to Barnoldswick's total of 214 before the gathering gloom cut short play, may too leave his mark.

But it is the class and presence of Nawaz that dominates.

If he can build on his swaggering 42 when the action resumes tonight at Chatburn Road, Read will surely collect their first victory in this competition for 13 years.

But if Barnoldswick find a way to penetrate his defences and eliminate him early on, a first Cup triumph since 1985 would probably be their reward.

Such responsibility, though, rests easily on the 25-year-old Pakistani's shoulders.

"I think we're in a strong position now and I think we'll win," he said with complete conviction after striking two sixes to take a vice-like grip of the match.

"We need a good start tonight as well but we can do it.

"Yesterday was one of those days when I was seeing the ball well and going confidently for my shots.

"I have been focusing on this game for several weeks and I intend to play the same way tonight."

Clearly affected by Nawaz' masterly contribution, Peterson responded with almost obligatory words of defiance.

But it seemed he was clinging to hope rather than speaking with any great certainty.

"I think they still require a sufficient amount of runs to make things extremely interesting tonight," he suggested.

"It would have been nice if myself and Ian Scothern had put on 90 or 100 apiece instead of the 60-odd and 40-odd we did.

"And when we went at them we didn't bowl the right length - we were either too short or too long and they punished us.

"But a couple of quick wickets and we're right back in it - it's still anyone's game."

It could have been substantially rosier for Read if wicket keeper Peter Worsley had managed to grab a reasonable chance off Peterson in the 11th over. But he fumbled the ball and lost it at full stretch.

The 23-year-old native of Sydney, Australia went on to make a crucial 63, rain interrupted for about an hour, before top edging a Nawaz delivery in the 36th over which the Pakistani gratefully collected with both hands.

Lee Naylor went in the same over, leg before to Nawaz, in exactly the same fashion as a belligerent Ian Scothern had gone to Graham Bardsley three overs earlier. Read now had the initiative.

Justin Manville and Graham Harker were dismissed tamely enough as Barnoldswick failed to post the 250-plus they had threatened, having to settle for an interesting rather than imposing 214.

Attacking it from the start, Terry Little paid for his over-exuberance when he was run out in the third over, the victim of a superb throw from 20 yards by Peterson.

Barnoldswick's joy was shortlived for, with Nawaz' arrival, Read took charge as the light gradually waned.

Andrew Smith seemed to be affected by the worsening conditions in the 11th over when he failed to pick out an enticing lob by Nawaz to the boundary.

Nawaz was seeing the ball perfectly, racing to 42 before the decision was taken, perhaps belatedly, to reconvene tonight when matters, weather permitting, will be resolved.

Tantalizingly poised, the scene seems set for a bit of bravado from Nawaz.

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