SETTLE’S Senior League defeat at Clitheroe saw the Dalesmen slip to third place, leaving them 21 points adrift of the champions.

The opening bowlers struggled to make any headway for the visitors, so it was left to captain Andrew Davidson (3-32) to remove the top order including prolific home pro Janaka Guneratne.

Asif Fazal (2-18) and pro Imran Khalid (2-48) eventually made their mark as champions Clitheroe closed on 160-7.

Robbie Davidson (18) and Khalid (21) made a quiet start, but Jack Dewhurst rocked Settle’s batsmen with a stunning return of 8-53 from 17 overs.

There was resistance from Lol Read (18) and Hassan Fazal was unbeaten on 22, but 124 all out was the final outcome.

There was little comfort for Settle in the fact that Clitheroe's match was washed out on Sunday when they had a free day.

The Marshfield side have a busy weekend ahead with a home match against Whalley followed by a trip to second-placed Read.

On Bank Holiday Monday Settle will again face Read in the 20/20 semi-finals at Great Harwood and will hope for success in the final on the same day.

Kyle Marshall produced his own 'all-rounder of the day' contribution with 87 and 5-38 in Barnoldswick's 120 run crushing of Ribblesdale Wanderers.

South African Marshall, shared a third-wicket stand of 155 with opener Abdul Saddique who continued his good form with 97.

Earby's hopes of avoiding relegation weren't helped by a 56-run defeat to Whalley and the abandonment of their match at Cherry Tree when they were in a good position to press for victory.

They bowled out Cherry Tree for 114 with Lee Parkinson (4-35) and Jake Hargreaves (3-17) doing the damage. Earby had just started their reply when the rain came.

In the Division One Craven derby, Settle seconds gained full points but left Earby struggling at the foot of the table. Settle’s runs came from two of the season’s mainstays as John Tarbox dominated the innings with a knock of 47 and Ben Hulse’s 24 held the middle together.

Skipper Kieren Ashley made a steady 16 while Jack Harrison and James Pickard each hit 15 in even time. Jason Lockley (3-37) and Jamaal Alcock (3-14) bowled well for the visitors but Settle made 126-7 in their rain-reduced 33 overs.

In the reply, Alcock hit 34 at a run a ball but wickets quickly fell as Earby went for 79 all out in 25 overs. There were two wickets apiece for Tarbox, Josh Mullinder, Joe Handy and Jason Paul, helped by three catches for Simon Tarbox.