Rishton 79 for 9 (20 overs)

Church 81 for 3 (11 overs )

Another clinical all-round show saw off Rishton and got the derby triple-header off to the best of starts.

The visitors were severely restricted by some tight bowling and regular wicket-taking. So efficient was Church’s display in the field that captain Andrew Bentley ended his four over spell with a maiden and Sam Holt began his spell with two of them – remarkable feats in this format. Both ended with sensational figures, conceding just 12 off the eight overs they bowled.

After losing Chris Lambert to a sharp stumping fourth ball of the innings, Rishton's effort seemed to lose any purpose or heart when pro Aaron Heal miscued Levi Wolfenden to Phil Sykes in the next over.

Only Richard Rostron and Sam Hacking put up any resistance as the wickets were shared, a couple of run-outs brilliantly pulled off and the shackles stayed firmly applied.

While a win was paramount, a quick win could only help strengthen Church’s grip on top spot and Sag Hussain took a four and six off Garth Wyse’s first over.

Adam Greenwood was deceived and bowled in Wyse’s second over but after Sag fell sub pro Naeem, Ashraf survived a raucous caught behind shout, followed by some prolonged histrionics, off Barry Hamilton.

He took a six off Heal’s next over but the real fun came in Heal’s third over which the Blackburn Northern man launched for 6, 4, 6, dot, 6, 4 to take his own tally to 44 off 23 balls and the total within 3 runs of victory.

Sykes fell off the first ball of the next over but Levi crashed the final ball of that, the 11^th over, for four through the covers.

Now with 9 points from our 4 games we await the result of the Rishton v EastLancs clash next Friday – whoever wins joins us on 9 points but at the mo our run rate is a good bit superior.