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Danny Kegg's heroics limited the damage of Nelson's defeat to Haslingden but couldn't stop East Lancashire deposing them at the top of the EW Cartons Lancashire League.

Nelson fell 13 runs short of their revised target of 148 as Michael Bromley took five wickets as captain Stuart Taylor's replacement.

But the defending champions prevented third-placed Haslingden from closing the gap further on the top two by holding on at 135-9 and denying the visitors, who are likely to be docked a point for a slow over-rate, near maximum points.

That was down to the bravery of Danny Kegg who came in at number 11 with a broken hand he sustained when spilling a return catch in the first innings.

Batting one-handed Kegg survived the last three balls as Haslingden were left with just 36 overs to bowl Nelson out after losing 14 overs to rain.

Brad McNamara took four wickets to wipe away Nelson's top order after earlier making 59 in Haslingden's 186-7 as they bounced back from their Worsley Cup defeat.

However, the real impetus to Haslingden's innings came from Charlie Lord who hit an unbeaten 42 at almost a run-a-minute while sharing a 62-run stand with the professional.

Colne continued their charge up the table with a crushing win at Ramsbottom.

There's no stopping Gary Laycock's men at the moment, particularly with Joe Scuderi in his current vein of form.

Taking full advantage of a difficult Acre Bottom pitch, Scuderi was too good for the home batsmen as he moved the ball around to take 6-22 from 19 overs. Nick Moulding also announced his return from a four-match ban by taking a wicket with his first ball as Ramsbottom, who successfully chased over 300 last week, were shot out for just 45.

Gary Hunt then put bat to ball with 21 as Worsley Cup finalists Colne lost just two wickets to professional Matthew Pascoe in securing another win.

Enfield bounced back from the disappointment of their Worsley Cup semi-final defeat with a four-wicket win over Rawtenstall thanks to the combined efforts of professional Dave Saker and 16-year-old Sam Reidy.

Reidy claimed five wickets and Saker two as Rawtenstall crawled to 115-8 from their 50 overs.

And the pair then produced a match-winning 57-run unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket to rescue Enfield from trouble.

The home side were in trouble at 57-6 when Reidy came in to join Saker, who thrived on the responsibilities of the captaincy in the absence of Andy Barker, who pulled a hamstring in the pre-match warm-up.

Saker got his head down to reach 50 in 83 balls before hitting Keith Roscoe for six off the next ball to take his side past a revised target of 110.

And Reidy offered priceless support with 17 off 62 balls as Enfield pulled away from the bottom of the table.

Todmorden were again unable to defend a score as Lowerhouse continued their recent recovery with a comfortable eight-wicket win at Centre Vale. The home side reached 180-5 with 43 from opener Stewart Priestley and an unbeaten half-century from Mark Clayton, whose 50 came off 78 balls with four fours.

Six overs were lost in Lowerhouse's reply which left them with a revised target of 166 and experienced campaigners Stan Heaton and Frank Entwistle set them on the eay to victory with an opening stand of 116 before Entwistle went for a run-a-ball 57 with 10 fours and a six.

Heaton quickly followed, his 50 coming off 85 balls with eight boundaries, but in-form professional Martin Van Jaarsveld saw the job through with a perfectly controlled 49 not out from 48 balls with five fours and a six as Lowerhouse eased home.

East Lancs had little trouble taking over at the top, shrugging Church's challenge aside in a low-key affair which the leaders dominated.

Once the top order had been winkled out, Church had little to offer against an East Lancs attack inspired by veteran Ian Haworth (5-30).

Their modest total of 108-8 was never going to prove much of a challenge to the title chasers, despite the best efforts of Church pro Neil McGarrell.

He collected the only three wickets to fall but Phil Bolton was in charge of things and steered East Lancs to their expected success. Bolton hit five fours, carried his bat and shared a stand of 61 with professional Claude Henderson (24).

Rain helped produce a tight game at Burnley but Rishton came through.

Professional Paul Wiseman (50) was the mainstay behind Rishton's 167 before being caught from a loose shot. Stuart Roberts hit a splendid 37 from just 40 deliveries and Neil Wells contributed a useful unbeaten 20.

Burnley professional Anthony Botha picked up 5-63 and much rested on him when they replied.

A good solid start looked even better when rain reduced their target to 136, meaning they had to make less than 100 from 25 overs with nine wickets left.

But Botha went to a fine catch by Wells for 35, Andrew McLeod was out for 26 and the rest of the batting - with the notable exception of Gareth Halley (18 not out) - crumbled.

Burnley finished up needing 13 from the last over and that proved too much for their final pair. Nevertheless, they collected a grand total of seven bonus points.

Wiseman added to his runs with 3-25 from 12 tight overs.

Peter Killelea's sparkling 73 was the highlight of Bacup's victory over Accrington, who also found themselves chasing a reduced target. Killelea shared a third-wicket stand of 66 with professional Brad White (35) and hit seven fours, a six and a five (four overthrows) in his excellent knock. It took Bacup to 177-7, Tariq Hussain picking up 4-57.

Professional Mark Bailey (30) and Mas Ahmed (36) shone at the top of the order in Accrington's reply and their chances were increased when the victory target was reduced to 156 by rain.

But it proved just out of reach. With Kaz Shazad hitting a lively unbeaten 23, including two sixes in one over off White.