SHAHID Nawaz kept Read on top of the Vaux Ribblesdale League with a brilliant all-round performance.

The Whalley Road professional scored 70 with the bat and stepped in to take seven wickets as Baxenden were dismissed for 103. Earlier Marsh had scored his first century of the season as Read raced to 242-3.

Barnoldswick kept up their chase with professional James Peterson producing the highest score of the day as he rattled up on 132 against Whalley. Justin Manville took four wickets as Whalley slumped to 153-9 with their 11th man unable to bat because if injury.

Great Harwood slipped to defeat as Keith Roscoe took five for 45 and Mark Burns scored 62 in their 13 run victory.

Earby found the going tough as they went down to a four wicket defeat at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Clitheroe professional Jonathan Fielding took seven for 48 as Padiham were dismissed for 132 leaving the Chatburn Road club a comfortable stroll to victory.

Cherry Tree took maximum points from their encounter with Ribblesdale bowling them out for 88.

Jeff Hacking took eight wickets as Settle held out with nine wickets down to deny Blackburn Northern bonus points in the Dales. Ian Billcliff (51) and Nigel Robbins (75) led the way for Northern.

Results: Barnoldswick 215-5 (7 pts), Whalley 153-9; Baxenden 103, Read 242-3 (7 pts); Great Harwood 128, Edenfield 141-8 (7 pts); Oswaldtwistle Immanuel 197-6 (5pts), Earby 196-6; Padiham 132, Clitheroe 134-5 (7); Ribblesdale Wdrs 88, Cherry Tree 164-5 (7); Settle 148-9, Blackburn Northern 182-6 (5).

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