Haslingden stay on top of the table after they beat Nelson in the Seedhill sunshine – but Colin Pemberton’s men were in the box seat for long periods.

Haslingden posted 177-8 and Nelson were 158 all out despite a patient 52 from professional Burton de Wett, who seemed to get bogged down during his innings as the Seedhillites snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Haslingden innings

LG Ingham b Meade 10
CP Read lbw b Halstead 1
Hayes b de Wett 54
SE Dearden b Halstead 5
J Taylor c Meade b de Wett 32
J Pemberton c Halstead b de Wett 23
MJ Ingham c Lord b de Wett 21
JJ Marcroft c Halstead b de Wett 15
RP Marcroft not out 3
J Sudworth not out 0
Extras 13
Total (8 wickets) 177
Halstead 12 3 41 2, Meade 10 5 15 1, Pemberton 5 0 27 0, de Wett 15 2 54 5, SR Lemon 3 0 18 0, Lord 5 0 17 0.

Nelson innings

SR Lemon b Sudworth 20
L Bradley c JJ Marcroft b Read 12
de Wett c Dearden b MJ Ingham 52
DA Crotty b Dearden 8
NS Thompson lbw b MJ Ingham 20
SM Lemon c and b Read 4
TA Lord c MJ Ingham b Read 0
R Bradley b Read 6
RA Meade b Read 3
CD Pemberton c Dearden b Read 5
S Halstead not out 0
Extras 28
Total (10 wickets) 158
Dearden 9 2 29 1, Read 20.5 1 58 6, Sudworth 5 0 20 1, Neary 4 0 15 0, MJ Ingham 8 0 29 2.

Haslingden won by 19 runs. Nelson 4, Haslingden 12.