Haslingden 170 all out (1 point)

Church 171 for 5 (12 points)

Church sent leaders Haslingden home smarting from a comprehensive 5-wicket defeat which featured an inspirational performance from South African sub pro Wayne Madsen.

The Durban-based Madsen, who plays his cricket for Unsworth by the M66, turned in remarkable figures of 9 for 54 to bowl out the visitors, who had got off to a racing start.

He then compiled a superb 72 at number 3 as Philip Gilrane’s side knocked off the runs with more than 6 overs to spare.

When he departed at 136 for 5, the Church side of the first few weeks of the season may have struggled or even folded.

But this is a group learning and maturing by the week with young and sometimes impetuous fellas taking on their responsibilities and playing the situation right.

Sag Hussain – a revelation all weekend – and Sam Holt simply got their heads down and steered the ship home without any further alarm. It was as good to watch as Madsen’s delightful innings had been.

It looked like a big target might be posted when Hasy pro Phil Hayres and captain Knowles blazed to 72 without loss.

But Madsen found a spot of bounce with his off-spin and ran through them, aided by superb out-cricket – all ten wickets fell to catches. From 98 for 1 to scuttle a side for 170 was a top effort.

The captain got the other wicket and it was the vital one of bristling-with-aggression Dearden.

Madsen’s two-hour knock was peppered with reverse pulls and sweeps and the lad certainly earned his fee – not always the case in a season where quality has been hard to come by. The performances were by far the best contributions in the league by a hired hand this season.

A perfect weekend then – and a team which is acquiring the winning habit.