Hosts Burnley beaten in T20 semi but stay top of league table

Burnley Cricket Club won Sunday's rain-hit derby at home to Lowerhouse by 56 runs after their T20 disappointment on the previous day.

LAST WEEK: Lowerhouse chasing hard in title race

Burnley couldn't make home advantage count on JW Lees T20 finals day as they lost their semi-final to Haslingden and then saw Ramsbottom lift the trophy.

In a Lancashire League derby reduced to 26 overs a side, leaders Burnley posted 178-8 and then dismissed Lowerhouse for 122 with 10 balls remaining.

Burnley opener M Qasim Shah made 58 from 46 balls and captain Ockert Erasmus 39 as Ahmed Abudllah took four expensive wickets, his eight overs going for 70.

Thomas Walker scored 35 in a Lowerhouse reply that folded from 102-5 as Bharat Tripathi took 5-39. Tripathi stands fourth in a league bowling chart topped by club professional Erasmus with 54 wickets.

Burnley are now four points clear of Walsden, who they visit on Sunday, and have a 20-point lead over third-placed Lowerhouse, who host Todmorden.

The Haffners Turf Moor hosts lost Saturday's T20 semi by 17 runs to Haslingden, who posted 178-7.

Captain Sean Hunsley scored 69 from 42 balls (48 of those runs in boundaries) after a 52-run opening stand between Jeet Raval (41 from 26) and Matthew Sudworth (26 from 20) ended with a runout.

Erasmus took 3-26 from four overs but his side's reply fell short at 161-6 despite the best efforts of Joe McCluskie (58) and Tripathi (46 not out).

Haslingden were no match for Ramsbottom, who chased down 132-9 for a nine-wicket win in the final after defeating Enfield by 29 runs (with 169-5) in the other semi.

Division Two has new leaders in Accrington after their seven-wicket win at Colne. They moved five points clear after Crompton and third-placed Nelson both saw their matches abandoned.

Captain Lewis Rimmer led the way for Colne with 33 in their 133 all out (Karl Farnworth 5-29). Accy's skipper was also their top scorer, Jacob Clarke contributing 49 to their 137-3.

Colne have slipped to fifth ahead of Sunday's visit to bottom club Bacup. Nelson, rained off at Rawtenstall last weekend, are now 10 points off the top as they prepare to host Great Harwood.