SETTLE had a fine weekend at home, making short work of Padiham in the Senior League and defeating Whalley the next day in the Ramsbottom Cup.

On Saturday Padiham elected to bat but were quickly in bother at 20-3. The middle order put up decent resistance but Hassan Fazal (4-36) did the main damage, supported by an excellent return of 3-15 from returning pro Imran Khalid. Debutant Oliver Whyte took 2-27 as Padiham closed on 118 all out.

The hosts then knocked off the runs inside 18 overs, with Khalid (24), new signing Tabassum Aziz (22no) and Tom Davidson (19) setting up a final blitz from Will Davidson (24no). The younger brother blasted six fours in ten balls for Settle to claim maximum points and move to fourth spot in the table.

Settle batted first on Sunday with their steady start being boosted by 46 from 58 balls by Khalid. Three wickets then fell for just four runs, before Hassan Fazal rallied the tail with a knock of 20 at a run a ball for the innings to close on 164 all out.

Whalley did not look in any trouble early on, but Asif Fazal returned 4-28, with Khalid contributing 3-17 and Will Davidson conceding just seven runs from eight overs with two wickets for good measure. Fine catches by Tom Strickland and two sharp stumpings from David Worthington helped reduce the visitors to 114 all out and see Settle through to the next round.

Barnoldswick, who host Settle this Saturday, experienced mixed fortunes.

They came unstuck in their league clash at Great Harwood, losing by seven wickets after their 192-5 total proved insufficient, Nabeel Ahmed (41) and Luke Hodgson (34no) being their main contributors.

But they progressed in the Ramsbottom Cup with a six-wicket triumph at Brinscall thanks to 119no from Shashrika Pussegola. That saw Barlick cruise past their hosts' total of 187-8 after Sajid Akhtar took 3-33.

Earby suffered double defeat, going down at home by seven wickets to Read in the league after they were bowled out by 104, Anton Muller making 29.

Muller was also Earby's main contributor the following day in their cup defeat at Cherry Tree. He made 51 in an all out total of 156 but 76no from Stefan Klopper saw Tree home by six wickets.

Settle seconds bowed out of the Lawrenson Cup at Ribblesdale Wanderers. The hosts put on 162-9 with Settle’s new skipper Ben Mitchell taking 3-32 and David Hulse claiming two stumpings.

The backbone of the visitors’ reply was a stand of 82 between John Tarbox (58) and son Simon (22), but Kieren Ashley, unbeaten on 32, finally ran out of partners as Settle ended on 147 all out.