SETTLE first team lost at Euxton in the Ramsbottom Cup despite a battling 43 at a run a ball from skipper Tom Davidson and an excellent spell of 3-24 from spinner Josh Mullinder.

Openers Sadrian Ward (15) and Jack Harrison (18) started steadily, but after the injection of momentum by Davidson with support from Tom Strickland (20) the innings fell away to leave the visitors on 136 all out.

A half-century from former Settle player Aneeq Hassan then put Euxton in a commanding position. Ward (3-50) was in the wickets as well as Mullinder, but the hosts reached their target with three wickets in hand.

With only one point from two games, Settle will need to perform well in their remaining cup fixtures to move out of the group stage.

However, normal service was resumed on Sunday in Settle’s Senior League match at Brinscall. Opener Jack Harrison batted throughout the innings for his half-century to lay the foundation while Strickland (13) and John Davidson (29) piled on the runs.

But it was a blistering knock of 45 from 28 balls by Robbie Davidson which boosted Settle to 173 for six in 45 overs.

Sri Lankan pro Sehan Weerasinghe (73) then scored over half Brinscall’s runs, but wickets from John Tarbox (3-35) and Shakeel Richards (2-46) kept on the pressure, leaving Mullinder (2-9) and Tom Davidson (2-11) to mop up the tail. The 32-run victory puts Settle at joint top of the table, together with Cherry Tree who are this Saturday’s opponents.

In a low-scoring Lawrenson Cup game at Marshfield, Settle seconds lost to Euxton by 26 runs. John Tarbox (4-7) starred with the ball while Simon Tarbox (2-13) and Joseph Handy (2-26) helped restrict the visitors to 98 all out.

In Settle’s reply, only Adam Strickland (18) and Simon Tarbox (17) reached double figures in a total of 72 all out.