LOWERHOUSE flexed their muscles at the top of the Foster’s Lancashire League yesterday as they brushed Nelson aside to make it 12 league wins on the spin.

But the leaders remain under pressure from second-placed Ramsbottom, who are intent on taking the race for the title right down to the wire.

Lowerhouse were at their brutal best at Seedhill as they reduced the home side to 6-3 after they had lost their first two wickets before a run had been scored.

The top score in the Nelson innings was 18 extras while Lewis Bradley made 16 as they were steamrolled out for just 67.

Joey Hawke, who did the early damage, finished with 3-28 while Matt Walker claimed the best figures of his career as he claimed 6-10 from nine overs.

Lowerhouse then coasted home for the loss of just two wickets with Cobus Pienaar making 21 not out.

Darryn Smit had another fine day for Ramsbottom as they beat Church.

The South African made 71 as Rammy posted 183-7 with a particularly brutal final five overs seeing more than 50 runs scored.

Those last 30 balls gave Rammy the impetus to go on and claim the win with Smit claiming four wickets while Jon Fielding and Michael Haslam claimed three each with Church bowled out for 110.

Michael Neser said farewell to the Lancashire League with a win as Todmorden made it two victories in the weekend as they beat Bacup.

Tim Farragher’s 74 was the mainstay of Bacup’s 174-9 at Centre Vale before Neser once again shone with the willow.

The Aussie, who had scored three successive centuries, including Saturday’s record breaking 191 at Rawtenstall, needed 53 runs to reach 1,000 for the season.

He couldn’t manage the fourth ton on the spin – but he eased past his four figures with a giant six before finally departing to warm applause and admiration for 67.

In the end Todmorden got home by two wickets.

Matt Griffin claimed four wickets as Haslingden got back to winning ways against Rishton.

Griffin collected 4-18 from 11.3 overs as Rishton slipped to 110 all out with 20 extras the top score in their innings.

Graham Knowles then hit 54 and Brenton Parchment 33 as Haslingden made light work of their chase.

East Lancashire beat Enfield by three runs in a thriller at Alexandra Meadows.

Bowled out for 119 the home side seemed to be out of the contest thanks to the efforts of Werner Coetsee (4-21) and Ben Dowling (3-30).

After Matt Kleinveldt had made 31, East Lancs were indebted to Sharukh Khan’s late 18 to lift them into three figures.

Khan (5-34) then ripped through the top order as Enfield were 0-4 and 19-7 before Scott Wilkinson got them back into the game with 50.

With the balance turning back Enfield’s way, Khan returned and claimed the final wicket to leave East Lancashire winners by three runs.

Accrington chased down a big target to beat Rawtenstall by seven wickets.

Sam Kershaw made 64, Brett Pelser 43 and Dean Barlow 40 as Rocky posted 206-4 but Accrington strolled past that in style.

Ali Azmat hit a half-century for Colne but Burnley made it back to back wins as they eased to victory by eight wickets at Myprotein Turf Moor.