SETTLE secured a hard-earned 18-run win in their Senior Division derby clash with Barnoldswick at Victory Park.

The Marshfield side recovered from a poor start which saw them slip to 16-2 as opener John Davidson and pro Imran Khalid were dismissed cheaply.

Asif Fazal (25) helped his side to consolidate along with Tabassum Aziz (40) before another flurry of wickets saw them subside to 90-5.

Tom Strickland and Will Davidson steadied the ship as they put on 63 for the sixth wicket. Strickland made his highest Senior League score of 59, hitting seven fours.

Under-17 Benjamin Hulse made an unbeaten 16 to boost the Settle total to 199-9 which denied Barnoldswick the bowling points.

The Sri Lankan Shashrika Pussegolla took 4-71 and was the pick of the Barnoldswick bowlers as he made all the batsmen work for their runs.

Barnoldswick made a bright start through Abdul Saddique (37) and N Ahmed (41) who shared a stand of 76.

Pussegolla chipped in with 31 as Will Davidson (4-67) and Khalid (4-18) worked their way through the Barnoldswick line up.

The bowlers were backed up by Hulse with two catches and there was a fine run-out by Strickland. Barnoldswick were 18 runs short at the close, but at 181/9 there were no bonus points for Settle.

Settle made an early exit from the Ramsbottom Cup after suffering a three-run defeat at Baxenden in a tense encounter.

The Lancastrians posted a challenging total of 226-5 as Settle’s bowlers struggled to make headway.

Club stalwart Andrew Davidson came out of retirement yet again to deliver the side’s best return of 1-28 from eight overs.

The reply saw five of the visitors’ batsmen make nine runs between them while pro Imran Khalid hit a commanding 102 to keep his team in the hunt.

Hassan Fazal (39) and John Davidson (28) also rallied to the cause, while Hulse (21) carried on his excellent work.

But with two balls remaining and only four runs needed to reach the semi-finals, the last man’s runner was adjudged out of his crease as the bails were removed.

Settle can at least look forward to their home Lancashire Cup match against Northern Premier League leaders Leyland on Sunday.

Earby's batting crumbled as they suffered an eight-wicket defeat at Clitheroe. Only Anthon Muller (42) looked at ease as Janaka Gunaratne took 6-50. A spirited last-wicket stand of 29 between Jason Lockley (30) and Luke Hipgrave saved Earby from being bowled out for less than 100.

Clitheroe lost two early wickets to Muller (2-42) before Gunaratne (48no) and Ali Ross (40no) saw their side home.

Settle seconds lost by an even narrower margin - two runs - against Stacksteads in an enthralling Marshfield encounter.

Under-18s Simon Tarbox (3-28) and Joseph Handy (3-30) restricted the visitors to 143-9, but Settle’s reply faltered as the top four went cheaply.

Ben Mitchell struck a quick 20, and a fighting last-wicket stand by James Holgate (30) and Thinesh Rajaratnam (19no) almost saw the hosts over the line.