In the penultimate group matches in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League, Ribblesdale Wanderers won the toss and elected to bat. Jordan Hemann (22) and Ruben Pickett (28) looked to have set a platform for a reasonable total however they lost four wickets in one over to Olive Parr who took 4-8 as they subsided to 80-9, write Ray Taylor and Bill Slinger.

Padiham looking to win but also improve their net run rate raced to 53-1, opener Callum Clarke made 25. A spectacular collapse left the last pair needing to score eight to win. Parr hit a four but was bowled next ball to give Ribblesdale an unbelievable win by one run. There were some excellent bowling figures, Ian Britcliffe 4-28, Jordan Britcliffe 1-10 off four overs and Joel Blackledge four overs 2-6.

In the local derby, Barnoldswick batting first got off to a good start opener Jonny Beech (27) and Saeed Ali (20) to take the score to 49-1. However they declined to 92 all out. There were two wickets each for Luke Hipgrave, Stefan Breuninger and Ben Hall.

In reply, Breuninger made 25 and Raveen Yases 43 not out to take Earby to an easy win by seven wickets with four overs to spare.

The teams entered this fixture both on four points and looking to put themselves in an excellent position to qualify for the quarter finals, Barrowford looking for a hat-trick of wins against higher league opposition.

Read won the toss and elected to bat. They were bowled out for just 88 in 19 overs, only Blayde Capell 37 and Elliott Lowes 13 making double figures. Ather Waheed, Jahangir Baber and Nadeem Aslam took three wickets each.

Barrowford got off to a good start and were 46-1, opener Aziz Iqbal 22 and Hassan Aneeq 19, when Aneeq was run out. In a tense chase Barrowford reached their target with eight wickets down and one over to spare.

The Group has joint leaders with Ribblesdale Wanderers and Barrowford on six points. They play each other in the last round of matches. The winner will top the Group. Read on four points need to win to have any chance of qualifying as Group runners up.

The top two in this Group met knowing that a win would virtually guarantee qualifications for the quarter finals and an excellent chance of a home draw.

Whalley won the toss and elected to field. Brandon Faber made 28, but struggled particularly against Edward Burrow who took 4-10 in a total of 89 all out.

Whalley made short work of reaching the target, Frankie Jackson 42 and Levi Wolfenden saw them home by 7 wickets with more than 5 over to spare.

Both teams had only one point after first three rounds of matches and would need two wins in their last two fixtures and other results to go their way to reach the Quarter Finals.

Oswaldtwistle made 99-4 in their 20 Overs. Luke Siriani made 36 and Haris Saleemi 23 not out.

Feniscowles reply was dominated by a second wicket partnership of 86 between Waqar Rafique 40 and Imran Mehood who made 43 as they passed the target with seven wickets in hand.

Both teams entered the match on three points with a win so virtually “a winner takes all” in terms of qualifying for the quarter finals.

Baxenden batted first and the innings was dominated by opener Blaire Walsh who made 70 including 11 fours and a six. Only Adam Masood of the other batsman (11) made double figures in a total of 114-9. A Mohammed took 3-21.

In reply, Jake Willacy (22), Mickey Copeland (35) and Owen Elwood (30) ensured a Cherry win by five wickets but with only one delivery to spare.

Whalley top the Group with seven points, followed by Salesbury and Cherry Tree both on five points. The Group is still in the balance as the last round of fixtures gives five of the six teams a chance of qualifying. It may well l come down net run rate so decide the final positions.

In Group Three technically every team has a chance of qualifying, with Lostock and Astley Bridge on five points, Tonge and Brinscall on four and Blackrod and Eagley on three.

Thursday’s match between Brinscall and Tonge was abandoned during the first over.

Antonio Greenidge plundered 90 runs from 57 deliveries in Blackrod’s 142-5, but 61 from Alex Kok assisted Astley Bridge to victory with one ball remaining despite Tush De Zoyza’s 3-24.

Dave Flanagan with a half century from 19 balls set Lostock on their way to 164-5. James Richards gave Eagley hope with a quickfire 69, but Robbie Holgate’s 3-30 helped restrict then to 152-7.

In Group Four qualification lies with Farnworth, seven points, Little Lever six, Kearsley five and Farnworth S.C. four.

The match between Little Lever and Farnworth S.C. was rained off.

Batting at number eight, Simon Booth helped Farnworth to 149-7 with forty from twenty deliveries, Atherton then being dismissed for 83.

Muzammil Nizam gave Walkden a sound start with a half century, but Charlie Dorsey took 5-14 to reduce them to 116. Kearsley went on to win by three wickets in the last over despite Nizam taking 3-25.

n Fixtures

Thursday: Brinscall v Blackrod

Friday: Eagley v Astley Bridge, Tonge v Lostock, Atherton v Little Lever, Farnworth v Kearsley, Walkden v Farnworth S.C., Barnoldswick v Read, Padiham v Earby, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Barrowford, Baxenden v Salesbury, Feniscowles v Whalley, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Cherry Tree