A SHOCK defeat at Whalley on Sunday cost Settle the lead in the Ribbledale League's Senior Division table, leaving them three points behind Salesbury.

The weekend had started exceptionally well with a crushing home win against Baxenden on Saturday in an unbeaten run of five games.

The visitors were blown away inside 26 overs as Eddy Read cut a swathe through their line-up claiming 6-24, ably assisted by Ryan Sumner who picked up four catches behind the stumps. There were easy pickings too for pro Ashen Silva (3-11) as Baxenden slumped to 66 all out.

Settle lost four cheap wickets in their reply, but Silva’s unbeaten 27 saw them home in 21 overs.

It was a different story next day as Whalley won the toss and elected to bat, posting a modest total of 134-7. Eddy Read was still in stunning form, taking 6-50 from his 17 overs. He removed the pro Jack Edgar who was forced to grind out 41 runs from 104 deliveries as Settle’s bowlers kept a stranglehold for 45 overs.

Settle had a taste of their own medicine as they found runs hard to come by and suffered the early loss of key batsmen. Robbie Davidson (30) and brother Tom (16) shored up the middle order and it then seemed that Read would save the day with his batting. But going in at five he was last man out for 21, bowled by the pro, as the only support he could find was from Benjamin Hulse who held out for eleven runs from 37 balls.

Settle were all out, five runs short of victory with 4.3 overs in hand, their disappointment only slightly tempered by the award of five bonus points.

Settle II find themselves in fourth place in Division One and just three points behind the leaders after winning at Barnoldswick.

Ben Mitchell put his men in to bat, opener Shaun Airey responding well with a knock of 38, but a clatter of wickets put responsibility on the lower order.

Joseph Pickles (32) and Mitchell (18no) rose to the occasion, as did Adam Strickland who was unbeaten on 35 as the visitors reached 147-6. Mohammed Saffii (3-28) was the pick of Barlick’s bowlers.

In the reply, John Tarbox was back to fitness, removing both the hosts’ openers, but Asad Latif (45) and David Scothern (24) held firm.

However the last six batsmen could only muster 12 runs between them as Alex Gould and Joseph Handy picked up two wickets apiece, and Tarbox (4-22) saw off the tail to leave Barlick 130 all out.

In Division Three, Euxton made 146 all out at Marshfield, James Snowden taking 3-8 for Settle III. Callum Mathew and Edward Bradley took two wickets each, Bradley adding to his victims with a direct-hit run out from the outfield.

The hosts could only muster 90 all out, but there were good contributions from Snowden (36), Sam Brown (13) and Thomas Darwin (11).

On Friday, Settle firsts travel to Ribblesdale Wanderers in the 20/20 Cup and visit Barnoldswick in the league on Saturday.

Settle II entertain Euxton, while on Sunday Settle III are at Cherry Tree.