SETTLE maintain their second place in the Ribblesdale League Senior League after a comfortable win over visitors Read.

Skipper Tom Davidson hit an opening 27 with solid middle-order support from Thomas Strickland (39) and William Davidson (20).

The main feature was a well-paced 64 from pro Imran Khalid who recorded his fourth half-century of the season, taking the home side to 192-8 from the rain-reduced 37 overs.

The reply saw Hassan Fazal take 2-26 and Settle were in such control that the captain was able to spread the bowling round, enabling under-17 Benjamin Hulse to clean bowl the tenacious Michael Whalley.

Read finished on 133-6, Settle’s ten points was also dependent on the hard work of the ground staff.

Settle will have more time to focus on the league title chase following their exit from the Lancashire Cup at Monton & Weaste CC on Sunday.

The Marshfield side suffered one of their heaviest-ever defeats as the Pennine League team welcomed the invitation to bat by posting 244 all out.

Khalid took 3-48 but South African pro Christian Jonker smashed 149 runs from 96 balls.

The chastened visitors lost by 201 runs after being reduced to 43 all out including. Asif Fazal top scored with 15 and hit the only boundary, while the meagre score was boosted by 14 extras.

Settle 2nd XI now sit just eight points behind the Division Two leaders after their six-wicket victory at Feniscowles.

Josh Mullinder and John Tarbox took four wickets each as the hosts were dismissed for 115. Jack Harrison (38no) and Simon Tarbox (23) then saw the visitors home inside 34 overs.