SETTLE featured in three hugely entertaining and close-run games over the weekend and not all of them went in their favour

The firsts nearly threw away their 40-over Ramsbottom Cup match against Salesbury, seemingly treating it as a 20/20 affair when they elected to bat.

Baz Ward got away with this approach, smashing 38 from 18 balls, and Shakeel Richards was no slouch with 42 from 36.

However, the next seven batsmen managed just 19 runs between them, falling to loose attacking shots early in the innings.

The team was dug out of a deep hole by John Tarbox and Adam Strickland.

The oldest and youngest players put on 26 runs for the last wicket, number 11 Tarbox entertaining the crowd by hooking the fast-bowling pro Hashen Ramanayake.

The saviour of the day was Adam Strickland who batted through half the innings for an unbeaten 32 from 66 balls, keeping a cool head as wickets fell around him and playing classy shots along the ground rather than in the air.

Settle’s total of 145 was still not very threatening but the visitors were restricted by tight bowling, Tarbox at 1-18 from eight overs setting the example.

Wickets began to fall as Salesbury took more risks and the pro was run out for nine by Will Davidson.

Tom Davidson took 2-23 in a fiery late spell, but it was left to brother Will to bowl the final tense over.

He kept his nerve and Settle took the game by just five runs with three wickets standing to keep them in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages.

There was no such luck in Sunday’s thrilling Lancashire Cup tie against Woodbank.

Settle again won a home toss and batted, this time scoring 200 all out from 41 overs.

Ward was still in top form, scoring 45 runs from 32 balls, but it was the return of Callum Lockett to the colours which bolstered the batting.

He scored 60 from 74 balls, enjoying a 93-run partnership with Tom Davidson who made 43 in quick time.

Will Davidson fell for 16 as the overs started to run out and Settle had reason to think they might have done enough.

Woodbank were an unknown quantity in the Dales and looked in bother at 25-2.

Lockett bowled a magnificent spell of 5-38 from his eight overs, enhancing his all-round credentials.

But once again the match went down to the wire with the visitors needing three to win in the final over, last man in.

Settle finally bowed out of the cup with three balls remaining but can take heart from a better batting performance.

The Marshfield men have a heavy Bank Holiday schedule, entertaining Baxenden tomorrow at the start of their 20/20 campaign.

They then travel to Brinscall in the Ramsbotton Cup on Saturday and are back home to face Ribblesdale Wanderers on Sunday.

Settle seconds had a stunning win at Salesbury in the Lawrenson Cup. The hosts made an impressive 209 all out, Adam Bolton finally bowled by Alex Gould one run short of a maiden century.

Gould took 3-24 and there were two wickets apiece for Tom Harris, Joseph Pickles and under-15 Edward Bradley.

Undaunted by the task ahead, Pickles and skipper Daniel Strickland made 17 each, and Gould impressed with a cavalier 66 runs (eleven fours and a six).

The innings was then dominated by a career-best unbeaten 85 from Simon Tarbox who batted through the innings from first man down to see Settle home by five wickets with 16 balls to spare.