HASLINGDEN shot to the top of the Lancashire League as they beat the rain and form side East Lancs at Alexandra Meadows on Saturday.

They overcame Mark Bolton’s men by five wickets in the penultimate over as they passed a reduced target of 135.

Steve Dearden top scored with 40 for the new leaders, while spin star Paul Kelly claimed another three wickets.

That 10-point win took Haslingden past previous leaders and reigning champions Accrington.

Result: Haslingden won by 5 wickets (Adjusted target)
Points: East Lancs 1, Haslingden 10

East Lancashire innings
DJ Pearson c Marcroft b Read 25
MJ Bolton lbw b Dearden 13
JPA Turner c Marcroft b Dearden 4
PI Bolton not out 65
MC Lomas c Imtiaz b Dearden 52
A Bisoodwall c Knowles b Dearden 12
A Clague not out 0
Extras 23
Total (5 wickets) 194

Bowling: Dearden 18 3 62 4; Sudworth 5 1 12 0; Shah 19 2 75 0; Read 7 0 32 1

Haslingden innings
(Target: 135 from 29 overs)
GA Knowles c Lomas b Iqbal 31
Hayes c Pearson b Patel 2
SE Dearden c Sweeney b Kelly 40
CP Read c and b Kelly 1
J Pemberton not out 15
A Coleman b Kelly 0
LG Ingham not out 35
Extras 13
Total (5 wickets) 137

Bowling: Sweeney 4 0 28 0; Patel 5 0 22 1; Kelly 7 0 43 3; Iqbal 5.5 0 40 1