IF there was one person who typifies Rawtenstall's up-turn in fortunes this season then it has to be professional Sanjay Bangar.

The Indian all-rounder's own rich vein form has coincided with that of the Worswick Memorial Ground side, whose eight-match winning run is just two short of a club record.

By his own admission, Bangar was struggling for form with both the bat and ball, reaching his lowest ebb when he was bowled for a duck against Lowerhouse on June 17 - Rawtenstall's last defeat.

At that point, Rawtenstall where third from bottom and 54 points behind leaders Rishton. That gap has now been slashed to seven points thanks largely to the form of Bangar.

For the 35-year-old right-hand batsman has scored 463 of his 630 runs in the last eight innings while 29 of his 48 wickets have come in a purple patch that doesn't seem like ending.

"I was always confident in my own ability but I did feel I was letting the team down because I was the overseas player who was suppose to be making match-winning contributions," said Bangar of his early season form.

"I missed the first four or five games and I really struggled to get to terms with the wickets. I am more used to playing on faster, harder tracks so it took time to adjust.

"It was made worse when I saw other professionals doing what I should have been doing. But I always knew it would come good in the end."

Whether it was a moment of inspiration or just a last throw of the dice, it all came good at Ramsbottom on the last Sunday in June.

Skipper Andy Payne took his paid man out of the firing line and moved him from opener to number three while Bangar switched from medium pace to spin bowling - the first time he had taken such a drastic step in a career that has included 12 Test matches and 14 One Day Internationals.

He said: "I've never changed my bowling style before but the wickets were wetter at the time so I thought I would give it a go. I also had a few sessions at Lancashire's Indoor Centre to improve my batting and that really helped."

Bangar took six wickets and scored 63 runs in that match and hasn't looked back since. However, he is at pains to point out it has been anything but a one-man show.

"The lads have been tremendous and it has been a real team effort," said Bangar whose side entertain Lowerhouse tomorrow.

"Andy Payne has led from the front, Chris Cook-Martin has scored his fair share of runs while Keith Roscoe has 50 wickets to his name.

"There have been telling contributions throughout the team so everyone has played their part in this winning run."

Bangar has adopted the club mantra of taking one game at a time but he knows there is the prospect of a winner-takes-all showdown with Rishton on the last day of the season.

"It is vital for us that we perform well this weekend otherwise that last game will count for nothing.

"Should we do that, then only then can we look towards that game against Rishton."

Fixtures, tomorrow: Burnley v Todmorden, Church v Haslingden, Colne v Bacup, East Lancs v Accrington, Enfield v Rishton, Ramsbottom v Nelson, Rawtenstall v Lowerhouse.