SETTLE’S juggernaut came to a halt at Marshfield when their nearest rivals for the Senior Division title beat them by 46 runs.

Oswaldtwistle elected to bat and looked comfortable until first-change bowler Josh Mullinder removed both openers with his left-arm spin.

The batsmen generally made hay in perfect conditions until skipper Tom Strickland (2-11) chipped in, leaving Mullinder to pick up two more wickets for a return of 4-82 from 16 overs.

Facing 240-8, the hosts were in bother at 39-3, but a 122-run partnership between Strickland and Baz Ward put them back on track.

Ward was out for 67 at a run a ball, closely followed by Strickland who fell one short of his half-century.

But two run-outs in the middle order and a rush of quick wickets saw Settle all out for 194 with a single bonus point for their pains.

Settle are still 13 points clear of the field but will have to be on their mettle travelling to Section A rivals Barnoldswick (1.30pm start), who pulled off a 64-run win against Whalley.

Meanwhile, Settle seconds had a long day in the field at Barnoldswick where the hosts racked up 206-9.

Simon Tarbox got his side off to a fine start with two wickets in two overs but Richard Green (49) and skipper David Scothern (61) made the most of a lightning outfield.

Joseph Handy stuck to his guns with 2-53 from 11 overs and Tom Harris took 2-15 before injury after four overs.

Tarbox took three wickets in his second spell to finish with 5-50, his first five-wicket haul of the season.

At 14-3, Settle were boosted by a 92-run stand between Adam Strickland and Benjamin Hulse.

After Strickland went for 37, Hulse was run out for 63, his second half-century of the summer.

After flourishes from Daniel Strickland (16) and Ben Mitchell (17), Settle made 180 all out but claimed three points and remain well clear of the Division One danger zone with games in hand.

Settle seconds travel to Stacksteads on Saturday in their latest league fixture (1.30pm).