BURNLEY have one hand on the Lancashire League title after the penultimate round of fixtures went their way.

Dan Pickup’s men were 53-run winners at Church while nearest rivals Lowerhouse slipped up against Clitheroe.

That means they are 10 points clear at the top ahead of Sunday’s final day with another three against Todmorden all they need to get their hands on the trophy.

Against Church, Burnley successfully defended 153-9 batting first with Church all out for 100.

Joey Marshall (59) led the way for the champions elect with Liam Bedford also making 44.

Chris Holt (4-26) then did the damage with the ball with Josh Scully Church’s top scorer with 25.

Second in the table Lowerhouse were desperate to keep the pressure on but lost a tight game with Clitheroe by one wicket.

Sri Lankan professional Suraj Randiv hit a better-than-a-run-a-ball 48 with the visitors winning with one ball to spare.

House had posted 77-3 in a rain-affected game with skipper Ben Heap unbeaten at the top of the order on 37.

Clitheroe then got over the line in the nick of time, chasing a revised 136 for victory.

Ockert Erasmus took 3-29 while visiting skipper Peter Dibb made 22 in partnership with Randiv.

At the other end of the table Accrington took an unfortunate place in Lancashire League history as they were the first club to be relegated from Division One.

The went down to a 31-run defeat against Walsden whose defence of their title sees them third in the table ahead of the final round of fixtures.

Walsden posted 177-7 batting first with Jake Hoosen making 51.

Jimmy Hayhurst took 4-57 for Accrington with Karl Brown also picking up 2-22.

The former Lancashire man then top scored with 53 in reply but lacked any real support as the bottom side were all out for 146 in the 41st over meaning they will now prepare for life in Division Two.

Heading into the final weekend Church are second from bottom but just two points behind Rochdale who remain in trouble after a 46-run defeat to Darwen which secured the Towers’ safety.

Darwen made 197-7 batting first with sub professional for the day Glen Batticciotto finishing not out on 76.

Dave Bowden then took 5-31 to break the back of the Rochdale innings as they were all out for 151.

Crompton have also secured their place in Division One for 2020 after seeing off Norden with a 17-run win.

The innings of the day came from Crompton’s Dennis Louis who made 119 not out in a total of 206-2.

His 134-ball innings included 12 fours and five sixes.

Norden made a good go of the chase but were eventually all out for 189 despite Saif Bhojani battling hard for his 59 runs before becoming one of Harry Dean’s four victims.

Ramsbottom, fourth, were six-wicket winners against fifth in the table Todmorden in Sunday’s final game.

Victory came off the penultimate ball as sub professional Daryn Smit made an unbeaten 24 as they reached a rain-revised target of 114.

Captain Tom Parton top scored with 42.

Todmorden had made 129-6 earlier in the day with former Lancashire and England man Chris Schofield finishing not out on 49.

Jon Fielding led the way with the ball for Rammy, taking 4-37.