BARNOLDSWICK captain Luke Hodgson is hoping another explosive innings from Umar Saddique can help his side cement their position at the top of their T20 group when they host Padiham tonight.

The Victory Park outfit have had a flying start to the campaign and are top of Section B of the Ribblesdale League as well.

In the opening game of Group 3 of the T20 competition they stumbled to 116 all out but were saved by the weather, but last Friday Saddique smashed a 45-ball 87, featuring seven sixes, to carry them to 166-8.

Read looked to be cruising early on but four wickets for captain Hodgson and three for the pro Shashrika Pussegolla pegged them back and they fell five short.

It was Saddique's first innings of the season for the 1st XI, having also played just once last term as he battled with injury.

"It was a brilliant innings," Hodgson said of Saddique's heroics.

"He's struggled a lot with injuries last season and this season. He's already missed a few games this season because of his hamstrings, but he's always got it, he's got those innings in him.

"We've had a bit of a shuffle round with the batting order as well to try and get the balance right.

"He's done it against us before when he used to play for Padiham so we know exactly what he's capable off."

Barnoldswick, also in the semi-finals of the Ramsbottom Cup, are looking good on several fronts at the minute.

They host a Padiham side tonight who have one win and one defeat to their name. Last week Callum Clarke (76) and Nathan Whitehead (68) helped them to 168 at Earby before the bowlers skittled the home side for just 100.

Victory for either side would edge them closer to the knockout stages but Hodgson insists it is not a major target for Barnoldswick just yet.

"We're not really targeting it but we'll enjoy it and see where we get," he said.

"I thought we were going to get beat easily by Read. They were 90-1 with about 12 overs left chasing 160, I though we would going to get hammered but a couple of quick wickets changed it and we got the win.

"Normally we have it as a bit of a friendly practice and have a few second teamers in, because a lot of us work away and struggle to make Friday night.

"It's all good fun more than anything. It takes a bit of pressure off the league and cup and we'll see how it goes and go as far as we can."

T20 fixtures: Group 1 - Brinscall v Euxton, Feniscowles v Cherry Tree. Group 2 - Salesbury v Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Baxenden v Great Harwood. Group 3 - Barnoldswick v Padiham, Read v Earby. Group 4 - Clitheroe v Settle, Whalley v Ribblesdale Wanderers