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Colne took advantage of the storms elsewhere to close the gap on the top four of the EW Cartons Lancashire League as they crushed Church by 97 runs at the Horsfield.

With thunder rumbling around and lightning flashing, the rain somehow avoided the Horsfield to allow Colne to wrap up their 10th win of the season in one of only two league games completed.

As ever, professional Joe Scuderi was a key figure as he followed up his 44 with a burst of 5-28 to rip away Church's middle order.

Set a target of 195 to win, the visitors slumped to 45-5 and never recovered.

Opener Alec Holt showed some resistance with a top-score of 26 before being stumped by David Swarbrick, who also enjoyed a good day.

The wicketkeeper/batsman claimed three victims after earlier hitting a half-century at the top of the Colne order.

His 58 came off 124 balls with five fours and a six and his second-wicket partnership of 79 with Scuderi laid the foundations for Colne's victory, Colin Varley and Nigel Rimmer stamping home the hosts' authority with a 64-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Lowerhouse and Haslingden were left frustrated in their efforts to trim Nelson's lead at the top of the table when rain forced the abandonment of their game at Liverpool Road.

Haslingden had reached just 21-1 in pursuit of the home side's 210-8 when the weather forced the sides off.

Both captains were then apparently keen to give it a go when conditions cleared up, but the umpires dashed their hopes by calling an end to proceedings.

It must have been particularly galling for in-form Lowerhouse professional Martin Van Jaarsveld.

The South African followed up his 98 from the previous week with an unbeaten 125 in the face of a six-wicket haul from Brad McNamara to take over at the top of the league's run-making list. Enfield were fancying their chances of an upset after restricting Nelson to 159-9.

Duncan Spencer (41), Paul Garaghty (38) and Roger Harper (27) gave Nelson a solid start but the rest of the batting failed.

Damian Hartley's fine catch to dismiss Harper was a crucial blow but Enfield had time for less than three overs before the game was washed out.

Rishton looked up against it in their home match with Bacup, making only a modest 123-8 after electing to bat.

Brad White bowled excellently for Bacup, taking 4-37 in a long stint, as the Rishton batting fell away badly.

There was a nostalgic reappearance for retired former skipper David Wells, called into the side at the last minute following a late withdrawal.

Leaders East Lancs made a very brave effort to beat the weather at Rawtenstall.

Their hopes looked slim when after restricting Rawtenstall to 128-7 (41 for the impressive Mark Roscoe) the heavens opened just two overs into their reply. By the time play was possible again, there was only time for another 16 overs but East Lancs decided to take it on.

Opener Andy Clague hit a fine 48 to give them hope but wickets tumbled after his departure and East Lancs fell just short on 117-6.

But because they didn't manage to get through 30 overs in the second innings the game finished as a no result.

Rawtenstall sub professional Gideon Kruis will be remembered for a spectacular caught and bowled which he took on the run in the slip region to dismiss Claude Henderson.

Accrington lost in-form professional Mark Bailey cheaply at Todmorden but any chance either side had of forcing a result was washed away with the rain.

Chasing Todmorden's 180-8, Accrington had reached just 19-1 in the 10th over when play was abandoned.

Earlier, Brendan Nash went past 900 runs for the season when he hit 85, sharing in a 61-run, fourth-wicket stand with Mark Clayton, in the home side's 180-8.

Church beat Rawtenstall in a thrilling last over victory to lift the Lancashire League Second XI Trophy. Chasing Rawtenstall's total of 225 for six, Church finished on 226 for seven