LEADERS East Lancs chased down a big target to beat Colne at the batsman’s paradise that is Alexandra Meadows.

Matthew Wilson hit 83 and Jeff Ellis 76 as the visitors piled up 234-7 – and when East Lancs were 23-2, that seemed distant.

But Roelof Hugo was brilliant. The South African, paid man at Heyside, made 112 not out from 119 balls in a glorious knock.

John Turner also made 36 and veteran third team skipper Nick Westhead, playing his a first game in the first team since 1993, hit 33 as East Lancs got home with an over to spare.

Colne innings

JS Ellis c PI Bolton b Kelly 76
GB Hunt c JPA Turner b Patel 13
MJ Wilson c Patel b Kelly 83
Ali c Westhead b Kelly 20
RJ Procter run out 3
EM Walker run out 11
A Holt b DCT Turner 6
J Lambert not out 7
MJ Clark not out 4
Extras 11
Total (7 wickets) 234
Patel 9 2 34 1, NJ Turner 7 0 33 0, MJ Bolton 9 0 44 0, Kelly 16 0 76 3, DCT Turner 9 0 46 1.

East Lancashire innings

DJ Pearson c Tillotson b Ali 8
M Bhada c Lambert b Ellis 14
RP Hugo not out 112
JPA Turner run out 36
PI Bolton c Ali b Holt 20
N Westhead c Ali b Lambert 33
PB Kelly not out 0
Extras 14
Total (5 wickets 237
Ali 16 1 64 1, Ellis 7 1 41 1, Duerden 5 1 22 0, Lambert 14 0 70 1, Hunt 5 0 25 0, Holt 2 0 7 1.

East Lancashire won by 5 wickets. East Lancashire 10, Colne 1.