RIBBLESDALE Wanderers sealed a dramatic victory over champions Settle to move back to the the top of the Ribblesdale League with just two games remaining.

The top-of-the-table clash proved to be a thriller with Jordan Britcliffe taking two wickets in the last over with Settle needing 13 runs for the win.

Wanderers won the toss and elected to bat and got off to a solid start with openers Mack Spencer (22) and Eddie Steinson putting on 52 for the first wicket.

Steinson was then joined by Andrew Needham and they took the score up to 92 when he was out for a well made 45.

Needham and new batsman Ryan Canning began to increase the tempo and took the score up to 147 with eight overs left with a score in excess of 200 looking likely. However, in a collapse they lost Needham for 43, Canning for 33 and six wickets for just 26 runs to end on 173-8, which looked an above par total but not as many as seemed likely.

Eddie Read took 3-34, with Harry Snowden taking an impressive 3-23.

In reply, opener Alex Gould and John Davidson took the score to 29 when Gould was run out for 19. John was joined by brother Tom and they took the score up to 69, when Tom (18) became the first victim of Canning.

Canning’s spin (5-35) induced a collapse as Settle were reduced to 114-7 and a Ribblesdale win looked a formality. Ben Hulse and Harry Snowden built a partnership but were always behind the required rate. Snowden was run out for 20 having added 47 for the eight-wicket with Hulse.

With13 runs need off the last over, Hulse was unable to get the strike and Britcliffe took the two remaining wickets to give Wanderers a 12-point win by eight runs with Hulse left stranded for an intelligent 27 not out.

With just two rounds of fixtures remaining, Wanderers are top with 86 points and victories in their last two matches would give them the title. Settle are in second on 81 points.

Padiham (69 points) have moved up to joint third place after coming out on top in a low-scoring game against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Padiham batted first and were all out for 101, however this proved too much for Oswaldtwistle, who could only muster 60 in reply to give Padiham 12 points with a 41-run win. Nathan Whitehead did the damage taking six wickets.

They join Barnoldswick in third place after their game at Salesbury was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a very wet outfield.

Read hosted Earby with the visitors coming out on top. Earby’s Luke Hipgrave made 59 and Jake Hargreaves 42. Hipgrave added four wickets in an excellent all-round performance.

Whalley travelled to Brinscall looking to build on their first win of the season against Read last Saturday.

Batting first, Whalley made 161 all out, built around 85 from captain and opener Jack Edgar, he got good support from Frankie Jackson with 31. Adam Wojciechowski took three wickets.

In reply, Brinscall never looked like getting the required score were bowled out for 128 to give Whalley back-to-back victories. Edgar added three wickets to add to his earlier runs.

After their impressive win at Ribblesdale Wanderers last Saturday, Feniscowles were at home to bottom team Cherry Tree.

The hosts batted first and thanks to Waqar Rafique (26) and Mo Bhada (49) looked set for a good total at 113-3, however they collapsed to 128-9 at the end of their overs. Jack Woolridge took 3-6, with good support from Mark Hadfield 2-14 and James Cuff 2-17.

Cherry Tree were reduced to 49-6 despite 28 from opener Louis Strand. Late runs from Jack Woolridge (23) Nas Iqbal (20) got the visitors near the target but they ended on 113 -9 – 15 runs short of victory. Mini Bhada did most of the damage taking 4-12 with Nazaim Vaid taking 2-9.

Fixtures: Saturday - Earby v Salesbury, Read v Brinscall, Salesbury v Barnoldswick, Barnoldswick v Padiham, Whalley v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Oswaldtwistle v Feniscowles, Settle v Cherry Tree