Barnoldswick are not giving up their Senior Division title without a fight.

They made that clear on Saturday when they emerged victorious from a low-scoring match against fourth-placed Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Their prospects of a 12th win looked slim when they were all out for 120.

Spinner Gerald Metcalf (5-24) exploited the dry conditions as only Umar Saddique (37) and Matthew Nutter (35) managed to come to terms with the challenge he presented in a total of 120.

It wasn’t a total that was going to be easy to defend, but the champions managed it.

Substitute pro Mohammed Rehman – deputising for Imran Khalid who has returned to Pakistan to play in the National Ramadan T20 tournament – proved to be their match winner.

He took 5-46 as Oswald twistle were bowled out for 101.

The 109-run win leaves Barnoldswick still 23 points behind leaders Clitheroe who had a three-wicket win over Whalley.

Barnoldswick face another tough test this Saturday when they entertain third-placed Read.

In addition to their battle to try and retain their title, Barnoldswick have reached the last eight of the Lanca shire Cricket Board Cup.

They will be at home to Central Lancashire League side Heywood Biwater in the quarter-finals on August 11.

Just reaching this stage has required a big effort from the Barnoldswick squad as they have been missing key players in the competition.

In the first round they played Penwortham from the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield in a game reduced to 20 overs a side.

Abdul Saddique’s 64 helped Barnoldswick to make 157-7 before restricting their opponents to 155-8 to win by two runs.

Next they faced Central Lancashire League leaders Walsden and chased down a score of 270 to win by one wicket thanks to a stunning innings of 148 from professional Khalid.

That victory set up a third-round meeting with Egerton from the Bolton League and despite being without Khalid and Liam Bedford, they recorded a six-wicket win.

Egerton made 177-6, a score which Barnoldswick had no trouble chasing down as Nutter made 72, Asad Latif (39) and Luke Hodgson (29).