Brown hits ton as Burnley stay in hunt

David Brown hit a remarkable 64-ball 101 as champions Burnley beat Rawtenstall by 61 runs at MyProtein Turf Moor.

And Lowerhouse saw off Bacup by three wickets at Lanehead.

That left Burnley four points behind leaders Ramsbottom, who enjoyed a 79-run win at Church, while Lowerhouse are a further four points adrift.

Bharat Tripathi won the toss and chose to bat at Turf Moor, but brother Vishal was bowled by Joe McCluskie for a single.

Brown and professional Chris Holt moved the score to 72, with Brown the more aggressive batsman, before Holt was caught behind by Nick Payne for 17 off McCluskie.

Brown continued his hard-hitting innings with Dan Pickup at the other end, and the hosts were on target for a record total, with the score on 160 in the 21st over.

At that point, Brown was caught off Daniel Barlow for a 64-ball 101, hitting 12 fours and five sixes, including 24 off one Rizwan Shafiq over.

Following that glut of runs, only just 16 were scored in the next 17 overs, and the final seven wickets fell for just 43 runs in total.

Keith Roscoe took 4-41 from 17 overs, of which nine were maidens.

Overseas amateur Nick Maiolo also took 3-47 and wicketkeeper Payne finished with six victims.

Pickup (24) and Bharat Tripathi (10) were the only other batsmen in double figures for Burnley.

In reply, Rawtenstall never really threatened the run rate, and from a position of 126-5, Holt ripped through the tail, taking the final six wickets for only eight runs to finish with 6-34, as the visitors were dismissed for 142 after 47 overs.

Dan Southworth hit 41, McCluskie 20, Matt Kershaw 19 and Maiolo 18.

On Saturday, Burnley are back in action at Church.

Lowerhouse came through a low-scoring affair at Bacup.

The hosts won the toss and decided to bat, but were bowled out for just 98 in 30.5 overs as professional Dieter Klein took 4-41 and Joe Hawke 4-44.

Dominic Stuart (1-3) set the ball rolling (1-3) as he removed Tim Farragher (2) in the second over.

Bacup were indebted to Matt Thompson, who top scored with 48, including six fours and a six.

Professional Haseeb Azam added 18, with no one else able to reach double figures.

Lowerhouse’s reply got off to a stuttering start as Azam sent back Jon Finch (5), Ben Heap (0) and Hawke (0) all with the score on 14.

Azam also removed Klein (12), Joe Martin (19) and Adam Hugill (0) as he finished with 6-39, but Charlie Cottam produced a captain’s innings, matching his previous seasonal best score with an unbeaten 42, including four fours, to guide Lowerhouse past their target in the 31st over.

Lowerhouse are at home to Accrington on Saturday.