BRILLIANT Baxenden made it six wins from six as they put 11 points between themselves and the chasing Ribblesdale League pack as the rain hit Read’s hopes.

Bash battered reigning champions Clitheroe while Read were left frustrated as their game at Settle was abandoned – but that allowed Barnoldswick to move into second spot.

Babar Naeem (47), David Cronshaw (40) and Simon Payne (26) made good runs at the top end of the order – but a 30-ball 49 not out from Ben Swindells boosted the Bash total to 224-9 with Josh Marquet the pick of the bowlers claiming 5-60 In reply Ahmed Butt made 33 and Josh McDowell hit 24 but Liam Riley claimed 5-48 and Naeem 5-50 as Clitheroe were 127 all out.

Read restricted Settle to 117-9 and were on their way at 35-1 when the rain came – but the elements couldn’t stop Barnoldswick.

Batting first Barlick posted 251-7 against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel with skipper Richard Nichols leading the way in some style.

Nichols made a quite brilliant 127 not out from just 123 balls with 17 fours and two sixes as Barlick went run crazy.

Immanuel veteran Gerard Metcalf suffered on his way to a three-wicket haul as his 15 overs went for 101.

Rain reduced the target to 164 – and Chris Cook-Martin went for it, smashing 89 from 68 balls with six fours and four sixes.

Oliver Clare made 38 – but they were eight runs short when they ran out of time.

Great Harwood pro Syed Shahabuddin made a brilliant 152 not out as his side piled up 237-6 at Cherry Tree – and despite chasing a rain reduced target of 194, Cherry Tree fell short to stay winless.

Edenfield crashed to a second loss on the spin at Ribblesdale Wanderers to dip into fifth.

Muhammad Wajihuddin (60) and John Rain (68) helped Ribb to 209-7 and chasing a reduced 158, Edenfield were 47 runs short.

Ali Azmat made 77 and Richard Craddock 42 as Earby were 196-9 at Padiham with Chris Holt claiming four wickets at the end of a week when he played for Leicestershire seconds in their win at Durham.

That total was 52 too many for Padiham as Stephen Hipgrave claimed 3-30 three days after his 50th birthday, while Azmat also claimed three wickets.

There was a thriller at Ribchester Road as Whalley beat Salesbury by just five runs.

Richard Lamb hit 70 and Martyn Davies made 52 as the openers shared a three figure opening partnership before rain stuttered the innings at 146-3.

In a chase of 113, Salesbury fell five runs short.