SETTLE’S CBS Office Supplies Ribblesdale League Section A title hopes are now only a mathematical possibility after their narrow defeat at Great Harwood.

The hosts, soon to decamp to the Lancashire League, made 114 all out in 37 overs, Settle professional Imran Khalid yet again being in the wickets with 4-42 from 17 overs. Asif Fazal (2-50) and Tom Davidson (2-3) claimed two wickets apiece.

Openers John Davidson (28) and Fazal (14) laid a good foundation for Settle, putting on 25, and Robbie Davidson (16) and Tabassum Aziz (17) did well at the heart of the innings as they went to 78-3.

But Sri Lankan pro Ashen Silva made the decisive contribution for Harwood, spinning his way to 5-38 as Settle slumped to 99 all out, losing by 15 runs, Will Davidson (11) being the only other player into double figures.

They took six points from the match, but Clitheroe now look the safest bet for the top spot with a 29-point lead and just four matches remaining.

Mid-table Read conceded 245-5 against Whalley but made a decent fist of their reply with 212, opener and skipper Joe Marshall hitting 59.

Umar Saddique played the key innings for Section B leaders Barnoldswick at Brinscall.

He hit seven fours and three sixes in his 59, adding 72 for the first wicket with Abdul Saddique, who made only 16.

Skipper Luke Hodgson weighed in with 48, while Mohammed Safii scored 25 in Barnoldswick’s 197-7, Brinscall only making 155 in reply, despite 101 from opener Nick Maiolo as Shashrika Pussegola took 3-28 and Sajid Akhtar 3-35.

Barnoldswick are 21 points ahead of second-placed Padiham, but bottom club Earby suffered a heart-breaking one-run defeat at Feniscowles, who collapsed from 172-3 to 186 as Anton Muller took 4-28 and skipper Matthew Garner 4-32.

Earby, who were 19-2, were revived by a third-wicket stand of 123 between opener Garner (50) and Muller (78) but they also had a shutter of wickets, losing their last two on 185.

Settle’s second team, who are second in Division Two, lost their first match in eight encounters, being beaten by 42 runs at home by Great Harwood, who made 146-7 (Philip Allen 82no) from their allocated 35 overs, skipper Ben Mitchell taking 4-50 and Josh Mullinder 3-35.

Opener David Hulse made 47 in 33 overs in Settle’s reply, and he was helped by a lively 20 from James Pickard, but they ran out of momentum at 104-8.

Leaders Earby seconds, who are 16 points better off, were handed 12 points when visitors Brinscall could only raise six players.