RAMSBOTTOM strengthened their lead at the top of the table on Saturday with a convincing win over struggling Bacup.

Bacup batted first and were soon in trouble as Lee Daggett removed opener Peter Thompson for just seven before Tim Farragher (29) and Adam Griffith (16) made a mini-recovery.

However, Simon Read was on-song for the Rams and he took 3-23 to leave the visitors on 150-9 at the end of their allotted overs.

The Rams lost Keith Webb early but Alex Bell (44*) and sub professional Grant Rowley (92) saw the Rams to their target with eight wickets in hand.

Lowerhouse came out on top in a high-scoring tussle with Burnley after chasing down their target of 235 with venom.

Burnley were indebted to 78 at the top of the order from Jon Clare as the Lowerhouse bowlers toiled away manfully, Jon Finch returning 5-68 from his 18 overs.

Finch (31) then teamed up with fellow opener Vishal Tripathi (27) to give his side a solid start in their pursuit.

However, both men were removed by Jonathan Harvey (4-69) before paid man Andrew McDonald blazed an unbeaten 72 to see his side home by five wickets.

Chris Bleazard (36) also chipped in before he was run out with the finishing line in sight.

Second-placed Colne romped to an easy seven-wicket victory over Nelson on their own patch.

Only Aussie Nathan Hauritz (75) offered any resistance for the visitors as they crawled to 163 all out.

West Indian leggie Mahendra Nagamootoo returned 5-59 in his 25 overs as he bamboozled his opponents.

In reply, Colne were never in any danger as opener Matt Wilson (68) blazed a trail to victory.

He was ably supported by Jeff Ellis (42*) and Qasim Ali (43) as the home side recorded the first victory of the day, finishing in 27.5 overs at 6pm.

In a nail-biting game at Rawtenstall, the home side surprised Haslingden with a two-run win.

Rawtenstall took first knock and were grateful for John Hayman's unbeaten 72 as spinner Nick Kennedy returned figures of 5-56.

Haslingden were set 173 to win but fell just short as Keith Roscoe (6-78) and Andy Payne (1-80) bowled 25 overs each in a heroic effort.

There were no big scores in the visiting total as everyone chipped in but there was a strange dismissal when skipper Paul Blackledge (14) was given out for obstructing the field when Vinny Hanson was going for a catch; both men ended up on the floor.

Enfield also came out on top by a narrow margin in a thrilling bout with Accrington.

Enfield batted first and amassed 207-6, thanks in main to paid man Alviro Petersen's 78. Mitch Taylor scored 40 before being run out.

In reply, Moshin Ahmed (41) got his side off to a flyer and he was joined by Tama Canning (54) and Adam Wilson (27) as the bottom club battled bravely.

However, they didn't have enough down the order to cross the finishing line and they finished an agonising three runs behind.

Petersen chipped in with 3-62, as did David Bracewell (3-68).

Rishton had no problems in beating Church.

Church made 169-8 in their overs thanks to a half-century from professional Ruvin Peiris.

Richard Rostron (3-31) and Sri-Lankan Kumar Dharmasena (2-61) were in the wickets.

Rostron (64) then ensured his side didn't mess up the run chase as he combined with Dharmasena (64*) to see his side home by eight wickets.