ENFIELD and Todmorden resume their Worsley Cup clash at Dill Hall Lane tonight with Todmorden marginal favourites to be the first side through to the second-round following a near wash-out of the competition yesterday.

The visitors require 129 more runs from almost 48 overs to book their quarter-final berth after dismissing Enfield for 134.

But with play going into midweek, thanks to the completion of the first innngs, Todmorden face the prospect of mounting a run-chase with just eight wickets to play with.

Students Dave Hatton and Andrew Sutcliffe were due back at university today and so are not expected to return to the crease for tonight's 6.30pm start, effectively leaving the Centre Vale outfit on 6-2.

Not able to start their reply until 6pm yesterday with the storm clouds again gathering, Todmorden promoted the pair to the top of the order in the hope of getting them some time in the middle.

Unfortunately for them, that plan was scuppered when just 11 minutes and 13 balls later the heavens opened to end play for the day.

Enfield will therefore see a glimmer of hope after a batting collapse looked to have cost them any hope of victory.

The hosts, who chose to bat on a green pitch, looked set for a sizeable total at 84-2 with Adam Bracewell and professional Alviro Petersen both well set.

However, the loss of six wickets for just 36 runs appears to have tipped the balance back Todmorden's way, unless Enfield can take some quick wickets on the resumption.

Bracewell and Petersen shared a third-wicket stand of 62 with the paid man for once happy to play a supporting role.

Bracewell hit 42 off just 43 balls, with eight four, before Todmorden professional Gyan Pandey struck to apply the brakes.

Mitch Taylor soon followed and in difficult conditions Petersen set out his stall to bat through.

The South African, who the day before had blazed his way to a thrilling 72-ball century at Nelson, hit just three boundaries off 81 deliveries to reach 45 and provide the platform for a possible late assault.

But after Neil Holmes had been run out, Petersen nibbled at one from Todmorden skipper Jon Henderson to depart to a stunning one-handed catch behind the stumps by Paul Brierley.

Worse was to follow for Enfield as skipper David Bracewell was given out leg before in the same over to one he may have hit and with Henderson claiming 3-9 from seven overs all momentum was lost.

Between the 30th and 40th overs, Enfield managed just 21 runs and with only 12 boundaries in the innings let Todmorden off the hook in failing to bat out their overs.

In the only other game to start, Church reached 12-0 in four overs at Rishton and will resume at Blackburn Road next Saturday, when the rest of the delayed ties will also be played.

Church had not wanted to start at all in conditions they felt were not fit to play but at least escaped without losing any wickets.

On the down side for them, their team was missing strike bowler Andrew Bentley, who was sitting university exams and will now not be eligible to play when the game continues.