UNDEFEATED Settle and Clitheroe are still slugging it out at the top of the Senior Division, with the Marshfield side just seven points behind the leaders.

Their batting at Cherry Tree was often rather patchy, though the Fazal brothers Asif (38) and Hassan (24) provided welcome stability.

The main feature was a storming 97 from William Davidson, now in the form of his life and averaging 43 for the season.

He hit 11 fours and six sixes, falling agonisingly short of a maiden century as Settle made 218 all out.

Pro Imran Khalid then carried on where he left off last week with a stunning return of 8-71 in 15 overs, his best analysis in three years at the club.

Six of his wickets were without any help from the field with the remaining two courtesy of stumpings by Robbie Davidson.

After dismissing Cherry Tree for 186, Settle now relish Saturday's visit by old rivals Read who lie four places behind them.

Despite a shaky early season, Settle seconds now have realistic thoughts of a return to Division One after a 77-run home win against Brinscall.

Settle got off to great start with their young openers, Adam Strickland (33) and Rob Johnson (22), followed by two quick sixes in Josh Mullinder's 16. Simon Tarbox scored a more patient 35, while his father John, unbeaten on 50, picked up his third half-century of the season.

Faced with 172-7, Brinscall were never really in the hunt as Mullinder (3-13), Strickland (3-18) and Joseph Handy (2-30) reduced them to 95 all out in 38 overs.

Section B leaders Barnoldswick suffered a four-wicket defeat in their away match against Salesbury, the home side easing home with four balls to spare.

Overseas player Shashrika Pussegolla (72) and Amir Saddique (32) shared a third-wicket stand of 117, but an eventual total of 200-6 proved insufficient to force victory.

Sam Bristol was the bowler who did most to prevent Barnoldswick from pushing on to a bigger total as he returned figures of 5-36 from his 13 overs.

Salesbury lost three early wickets before Joe Rawlinson (75no) and Liam Parkinson (53) came together in a decisive partnership. Abdul Saddique was the best of the Barnoldswick bowlers with 2-48 from 17 overs, while Mohammed Saffi (2-43) and Pussegolla (2-76) proved more expensive.

Rock-bottom Earby are still searching for their first win after suffering a five-wicket defeat at Baxenden.

The top four were blown away cheaply before Matt Wilson stopped the rot. He made 44 from 39 and was the one batsman to take the attack to the bowlers.

Earby were eventually dismissed for 149 with four Baxenden bowlers taking two wickets each.

Jake Hargreaves struck an early blow for Earby when he dismissed Kurt Smithson for a duck, but Baxenden shrugged off the setback to make steady progress to their total.

Brad Moss led the successful run chase with 66 despite the efforts of Hargreaves 3-40.