IT’S high fives for Baxenden with five wins in their five league games so far and they sit nicely at the top of the table.

Ian Austin’s side have also reached round two of the Ramsbottom Cup and so far everything is going to plan for the pre-season title favourites.

But the experienced ex-England and Lancashire batsman is not getting carried away by their speedy start as the season has only just got underway.

"I suppose it could have been worse," said the Bash skipper. "And I do wish it was September - it does feel like it at the moment!

"But we are ticking along quite nicely and everyone is contributing throughout the team.

"We are not dependent on just one, two, or three players but everyone is playing their part which is how we set out to be this season."

Captain Austin certainly played his part on Saturday as he hit a season best 72 and took three wickets against fellow title chasers Read in a narrow 27-run win.

It puts Baxenden 10 point clear in the early stages of the title race.

"That was our closest game of the season so far," said Austin.

"It could have gone either way in the last five or six overs and it was important that we won it.

"It was my turn this weekend but everyone has done their bit so far.

"The pro Baber Naeem has taken a number of wickets while Rishy (Mark Rishton) chipped in last week and Callum (Waddington) got a big score at the start of the season.

"So all is well at the moment and we are top of the table which makes good reading,

"But other teams will now want to knock us off and we have just got to get on with things and make sure we handle the pressure."

He continued: "We were pencilled in by many as favourites and we do know we have a reasonable side but all we have done so far is have a good start.

"Saying that, Clitheroe were also one of the favourites and I am sure they would want to change places with us - as would almost every team in the league - and it is better to have the points on the board and not be playing catch-up.

"But there are 20-odd games to go and it is a long, long way.

"We have got into a position where we are 10 points clear and we have got a slight ‘comfort zone’ where we could afford to lose one game and not be out of the ball game.

"But it’s a double header this weekend so that makes it another big weekend and we just have to plough on and make sure we don’t slip up.

"The only time it’s important to be top is the final game of the season!"

Austin got his 72 in 76 balls with 10 fours and two sixes in Bash’s 169 all out.

It takes his tally in the league to 235 runs and puts him third in the league batting ranks.

Austin then collected three wickets but was superseded by pro Naeem who claimed four - and already has 20 wickets for the season.

GREAT HARWOOD got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Settle in rainy conditions.

Stuart Maher finished with figures of 4-45 as he has claimed 11 victims for the season while Harwood pro Raouf Akbar took 3-48 as Settle were skittled out for 98.

Captain Russell Whalley led the chase for runs with an unbeaten 61 in just 44 balls hitting a whopping four sixes and six boundaries in a straightforward seven wicket win.

He now has 178 runs for the season in and will look to build on that if Harwood are to reclaim their league title.

OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel, who wanted to build on their Ramsbottom Cup win over Whalley last week, never got a chance to move up the table as their clash with Blackburn Northern was abandoned due to the weather.