BARNOLDSWICK were victims of one the Ribblesdale League's outstanding bowling displays for many years when Read's Australian leg-spinner Peter Sleep completely destroyed them at Victory Park.

Sleep finished with a remarkable eight wickets for seven runs in 17.1 overs, eleven of which were maidens, among them four wicket maidens.

"Some days everything clicks," was Sleep's modest assessment of his performance, but the opposition ranks were more forthcoming.

"His mum and dad were over from Australia and he seemed to put a bit extra into his game," says Barnoldswick opener, Ian Scothern: "It was the best I've seen him bowl, but he made the point that as a side, we didn't really play him very well. It's a failing we have. That said, he exploited the conditions superbly. We've left a bit of grass on the pitch to encourage more bounce and that worked in his favour.

"But his variation was excellent. I was trapped with a top-spinner, while Paul Beech and Sid Sheraz both went failing to read his wrong'un. The pity was that we made a decent start, but from 81-3, we collapsed to 91 all out. The writing was on the wall when the high-order batsmen struggled, but nine runs from the last six batsmen was a bit disappointing."

There was no hint of the mayhem to follow when Scothern and Mark Temple put together an opening stand of 42. Scothern's 25, which included four fours and lasted 93 minutes, took on a different perspective once Sleep started to cause havoc.

He wrecked Barnoldswick's middle order when he claimed four wickets without conceding a run in two overs, Barnoldswick's second-highest contributor being the 22 extras, among them a rare five.

In reply, Read were always in control, 19-year-old Michael Whalley steering the visitors to a comfortable win with a very positive and stylish 49 which included seven fours and two sixes.

A strong all-round display by former Pakistan Test man Ata-ur-Rehman proved too much for Earby when they visited Blackburn Northern. At 125-2, Earby looked to be heading for a substantial total, but once professional Jonathan Harvey and Matthew Plant were separated, the Earby innings crumbled.

Harvey (79) and Plant (25) were the only batsmen to reach double figures, 'Extras' contributing the second highest score with 25. Harvey included 10 fours and reached his fifty in 68 minutes off 61 ball, but in sharp contrast, half the Earby side failed to trouble the scorer as Rehman took control to collect 7-35 in 15 overs, a total of 142 leaving the home side with the whip hand.

Rehman also proved to be a thorn in Earby's side with the bat. Although they had their successes, the visitors could not prevent him collecting a half-century and when he was out for 58, bowled by Harvey, the home side had a four-wicket win in their grasp.

The top five teams all won, leaving Cherry Tree still three points clear at the top from defending champions Padiham, with Ribblesdale Wanderers third on the same number of points and Read five points further adrift.

Padiham professional Ajay Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi kept up their side's challenge for a third successive title when they played key roles in a nine-wicket win over Settle. At 48-1, Settle were looking at a reasonable tally as Surendra Bhave (22) and Mark Verden (30) found the boundary at regular intervals, but after that wickets fell at a steady rate.

One player who refused to be shackled by the Padiham attack was Michael Hird, who was at the crease for just 11 minutes, but lashed four sixes and three fours in a whirlwind 51.

Even that bout of belligerence was not enough to help Settle to a total that might have tested the home side, Sharma finishing with 6-43 as the visitors fell for a modest 129 in 36 overs.

Settle's only reward when Padiham batted did not come until David Jolleys caught opener Metcalfe for 14 with the score at 69. Once Sharma joined Tripathi, Settle were on the receiving end of some rough treatment as the pair steered the side to a comfortable win in just 26 overs.

In-form Tripathi had 16 fours and a six in a fine unbeaten 88, while Sharma had five fours in an unbeaten 28.

*Old Rossendalians, the subject of a complaint from both Settle and the match umpire following their behaviour at Marshfield earlier in the season, have been sent a letter of reprimand by the Ribblesdale League's Disciplinary Committee and warned about their future conduct.

The Rawtenstall team are currently leading the way in Division Two by a point from Earby.