DEFENDING champions Clitheroe began their T20 campaign with a comfortable six wicket win over Colne.

Skipper Jack Dewhurst made 35 not out for the visitors as they chased down a victory target of 98 with 15 balls remaining.

Earlier, Thomas Lord took 3-20 as Colne were bowled out for 97 with Jhangir Liaqat top scoring with 30.

Elsewhere in the JWL Founders Group there were wins for Rishton and Burnley.

Rishton are still waiting for their first win of the league season but Ali Hasham inspired them to a nine wicket win over Accrington.

He made 61 against his former club with fellow opener Sajid Patel hitting 38 as Rishton reached 115-1 off 16.5 overs when the rain came down.

That was enough to give them the victory on a faster run rate after Accrington had earlier been bowled out for 121 with opener Alec Jakeman making 44. Scott Greaves and Bradley Boddie took three wickets apiece.

Burnley also prevailed on faster run rate in their game with East Lancashire.

Joe McCluskie made 48 from 36 balls and Qasim Shah hit 43 as Burnley posted 158-6 from 17.5 overs.

In reply, the weather restricted East Lancs to only 10.3 overs and 47-3.

In the JWL Bitter Group Darwen, beaten in the final last season, made a strong start to their 2018 campaign with a victory over Lowerhouse,

The Towers prevailed on run rate as they posted 132-6 with Ammer Mirza top scoring with 41 and Chris Wade adding 39 not out.

Toxy Hussain took 3-25 for House who closed on 54-2 from 7.3 overs when the weather intervened. Ben Heap made 21.

Enfield openers Lewis Wright and Shash Pussegolla led their side to victory over Nelson.

Wright made 67 from 45 balls while Pussegolla added 61 from 40 balls to anchor a 144-3 total in 15 overs.

Pussegolla then capped a superb display with 4-14 as Nelson were restricted to 95-7 in reply.

Church also started with a win as they got the better of Great Harwood.

Zuber Desai made 36 not out for Great Harwood but they were restricted to 119-9 in part thanks to 3-21 from Church captain Levi Wolfenden.

In reply, Johnny Riekert (38) and an unbeaten 37 Josh Scully led Church to a four wicket win.

Todmorden were the only winners in the JWL Manchester Craft Group as they eased past Littleborough at Centre Vale.

The visitors managed just 87-6 off 14 overs and Ben Pearson made light work of that with a quick fire unbeaten 52 to lead the hosts to a 10-wicket win.

Crompton's game with Rochdale was abandoned as was Bacup's tie with Middleton in the JWL MPA Group.

Elsewhere in that section, league leaders Ramsbottom overcame Haslingden on a faster scoring rate while Rawtenstall suffered an eight wicket defeat at Norden despite 42 from Andrew Payne.