SETTLE's Section A first team suffered a surprising defeat by 63 runs at the hands of Section B leaders Barnoldswick in Ribblesdale League action on Saturday.

The match was distinguished by the rare feat of four wickets in four balls, taken by Settle’s Sri Lankan pro Ashen Silva.

Barlick elected to bat and immediately lost their two openers to Silva, but Aussie overseas amateur Jack Rietschel (52) hit a half ton and Majid Inayat made 79 at a run a ball to put Settle on the back foot.

Asad Latif struck 27 from ten balls to add to the pressure until Silva trapped him lbw, and then caught and bowled his Sri Lankan opposite number Chalana de Silva.

He went on to demolish the tail to return 7-47, his best figures for Settle, as Barlick closed on 189-9.

Danyl Husbands confirmed his return to form with 34 runs in Settle’s reply, while Silva (21) and Benjamin Hulse (25) bolstered the middle order. The visitors were struggling to maintain the required run rate so Eddy Read chipped in with 17 in even time. But the tail did not wag as Settle were all out for 126 with no bonus points on offer.

Rietschel took 4-56 and the league's leading wicket taker de Silva took 3-40 for Barlick.

* Jovaun Van Wyngaardt was in fine form for Earby, who smashed Oswaldtwistle by 202 runs at Applegarth.

Earby elected bat first, and Van Wyngaardt top-scored with 84 not out. He was ably supported by Lee Parkinson (48), Nathan Hodge (40) and Girvacques De Jager (39) as Earby set a daunting target, scoring 283-9.

Van Wyngaardt was also in the wickets, taking 5-27 in 11 overs as Earby's bowlers skittled Oswaldtwistle out for 81.

* In Division One, Settle II gave Euxton a run for their money as skipper Ben Mitchell took a career-best 5-35 in 11 overs to reduce the home side to 117 all out. Edward Bradley and Joseph Handy took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Mitchell tried to hold his team together with a knock of 29, supported by Eliot Marklew (20) and Sam Brown (14) but the innings faded away to 102 all out, though six bonus points were earned.

There was another captain’s innings at Cherry Tree as Nick Tyrer made an unbeaten 36 for Settle III, helped by solid batting from James Pickard (30), Angus Ogden (17) and Sam Brown (16) on the way to 160-8.

The hosts overhauled Settle in 36 overs, despite 4-43 from opening bowler Harris Dinsdale.

This Saturday Settle firsts entertain lowly Feniscowles and travel to top team Salesbury next day for a rearranged fixture in the hope of reducing the Lancastrians’ 13-point lead.

Settle II are away at Feniscowles, while Settle III play the same club at home on Sunday in Division Three.