Sri Lankan professional Jeeva Kalatunta put Barnoldswick back in the Veka Ribblesdale League title race with an innings that destroyed Great Harwood's Bowling attack.

Kulatunga raced to 111 and was backed up by his skipper, John Pickup, who added 50 not out as they set a target of 264-9. Harwood were dismissed for 152 with Michael Scothern on hot form with the ball while Allan Armer scored 56 for the visitors.

The win took Barnoldswick into third place, just three points behind league leaders Settle.

Clitheroe are just a point behind the top club after a thrilling tie at Padiham. The Ribble Valley club scored 232-8 with Shahid Nawaz leading the way on 116. they will feel they let Padiham off the hook as they reached 232-5 with Martin Hawke scoring 79 not out and professional Kashif Siddique scored 64.

Settle missed out on a chance to extend their lead at the top when they were beaten by Cherry Tree in another thrilling encounter. The leaders reached 199 with profession Hafeez scoring 60 as Shani Mirza took advantage of his promotion from the second string to take 5-46. Cherry Tree professional Zahoor Elahi raced to 130 not out and Stuart Hornby picked up five wickets before being blasted into the canal as Elahi won the game with a mighty six.

Read beat Edenfield by five wickets with Nick Marsh scoring 36 not out for the victors.

David Watson led Earby to victory with 64 not out in their 202-6. Earlier Bhavin Thakkar had scored 100 not out as Blackburn Northern set a target of 199-7.

Baxenden professional Indika Gallage took five wickets as Oswaldtwistle were restricted to 147. Gallage then scored 60 not out as Baxenden secured victory.

Whalley had the edge after Ribblesdale scored 184-9 with Martin Davies scoring 73. Whalley reached 155-9 in reply.

Scores: Barnoldswick 264-9 (7), Great Harwood 152 (0); Baxenden 148-4 (7), Oswaldtwistle 147 (0); Blackburn Northern 199-7 (0), Earby 202-6 (7), Cherry Tree 202-9 (7), Settle 199 (0), Edenfield 124 (0), Read 12-5 (7), Padidham 232-5 (3), Clitheroe 232-8 (3)), Whalley 184-9 (5), Ribblesdale 155-9.

SENIOR DIVISIION

P W L T Nr Bp Pts

Settle 21 14 6 0 1 18 90

Clitheroe 21 14 5 1 1 14 89

Barnoldswick 21 13 5 0 3 16 87

Gt Harwood 21 12 7 0 2 14 78

Baxenden 21 9 9 0 3 18 69

Padiham 21 9 7 1 4 12 68

Edenfield 21 9 8 0 4 14 67

Cherry Tr 21 10 8 0 3 10 66

Read 21 9 9 0 3 14 65

Whalley 21 7 10 0 4 10 53

Earby 21 7 11 0 3 6 49

Earby 21 7 11 0 3 6 49

Bbn Nrthrn 21 5 12 0 4 12 45

Ribb Wdrs 21 6 13 0 2 8 42

Oswle Imm 21 2 16 0 3 6 22