Burnley stunned by Clitheroe but title rivals can’t take advantage, while Nelson take top spot in division two race for glory

Burnley Cricket Club suffered a shock nine-run defeat at struggling Clitheroe last weekend but could still seal another Lancashire League title this Sunday.

LAST WEEK: Wins for Burnley and Nelson as title races hot up

They maintained their 16-point lead in the table with two games to play because second-placed Walsden were rained off against Haslingden, while Lowerhouse lost by six wickets at home to Darwen.

That result ended Lowerhouse's hopes of defending a title which Burnley can lift for a fifth time in seven seasons if they fare better away to mid-table Darwen this weekend.

But a Clitheroe side embroiled in a relegation battle after six straight defeats boosted their hopes by beating Burnley in a rain-affected fixture.

The hosts posted 91-1 from 32 overs as captain Ali Ross carried his bat for 47 and shared an unbroken stand of 85 with Stuart Lemon (39 not out),

Set a revised target of 119 from 24 overs, Burnley could only reach 109-6 despite an unbeaten 49 from professional/captain Ockert Erasmus.

Darwen soon had Lowerhouse in strife at 11-3 and the home side could only reach 107 in 28.3 overs.

Number six Keagan De Vries (24) was alone in reaching 20 as Jack Davies took 5-40.

The Darwen target was recalculated at 95 from 38 overs and they made light work of reaching it, especially after a third-wicket stand of 67 between Sangeeth Cooray (41) and opener Scott Jackson (27). Darwen had 12.2 overs to spare when victory was sealed at 98-4.

Lowerhouse slipped below Ramsbottom into fourth place before visiting bottom club Littleborough for Sunday's final away game.

Nelson jumped from third to first in division two after taking maximum points from a seven-wicket home win over Bacup.

Bacup reached 130 on the back of a partnership worth 68 between S Weerasinghe (64) and Luke Donovan (42) but then slipped from 82-2 to 101-7 as Hassan Fazal took 5-30.

Nelson were then granted 40 overs to reach a new target of 146 but needed barely 30, captain Tyler McGladdery hitting eight boundaries in an unbeaten 52 after Sam Holt launched the reply with 41.

Nelson are now a point above Accrington and nine clear of Crompton as three teams vie for the two promotion places over the final two Sundays.

Crompton went into last weekend as leaders only to go down by six wickets at Rishton, who host Nelson next. Nelson will then welcome Crompton on the final day.

Colne look set for a mid-table finish after their latest match at Middleton was abandoned, the hosts having reached 30-1 in the 13.5 overs possible. Colne's final home game of the season is against Rochdale this Sunday.