PETER Sleep can put his Ashes despair to one side after re-writing the Rishton history books.

The former Australian Test star added Rishton's amateur batting record to his professional one on Sunday.

The 48-year-old batsman needed 47 runs in the final match of the season to overtake Craig Smith's record set in 1990 of 1069 runs.

And his 60 meant he by-passed it to set a new record of 1083 - and with that result he could at least smile on Monday even if his fellow Australians were gutted.

And the new mark now sits proudly along side his pro record of 1621 runs set in 1991.

"Peter is a class act," said Rishton chairman Rod Simpson. "It isn't a bad performance for a 48-year-old, although his running between the wickets has got slower! But he still oozes class with the bat.

"We all know what Peter is capable of over his 15-year association with Rishton Cricket Club and his 26-year association with the Lancashire League.

"He has taken a bit of stick about the Aussies Ashes defeat but I have told him he is a naturalised Englishman anyway now as he has been in this country so long!"

And the chairman is expecting to see Sleep back at Blackburn Road next season.

"I think he will still be able to play for the next 10 years! He has so much experience and anyone who gets the chance of a former Australian Test player as an amateur will jump at it so we do want him to carry on.

"Peter has given himself a number in the squad next season anyway so it looks like he will be back!"

Sleep's heroics didn't stop Rishton slipping to a loss in the final game of what has been a difficult campaign for the Hyndburn teams.

They faced Rawtenstall and would have felt quite comfortable with pro Kumar Dharmasena taking 6-67, his best for the season, to make it 67 wickets for the campaign as Rawtenstall made 192.

The Sri Lankan was then gutted to be sent back to the pavilion early on as he just missed out on making 1000 league runs by 42 runs.

But Sleep could at least celebrate his landmark as his 60, with 10 fours and a six, overtook the 15-year-old record.

But there was little cheer for the rest of the Rishton order as they were bowled out for 145.

They did, however, finish the top team out of the Hyndburn quartet - in 10th place in the table.

Church were just behind them in 11th spot and, after Saturday's re-arranged game with Haslingden was washed-out, almost upset champions Lowerhouse on Sunday - the day the Liverpool Road side were presented with the championship trophy.

It was a nail-biting match with Lowerhouse making 233 and Nick Westwell taking 5-56 to by-pass 50 wickets for the season.

Church pro Ruven Peiris finished with a duck, unable to add to his 1127 league runs for the season, but Mark Aspin came good with 77 off 91 balls while skipper Phil Sykes made 65 to give Church a good chance.

They needed 17 off the last over and two off the final ball but Mark Gilrane was bowled out for 16 to end the resistance just as night descended.

Alviro Petersen finished with his best bowling figures of 6-37 to take his tally to 53 wickets for Enfield - but they lost by nine runs to Bacup.

Bacup only made 111 but, as has happened too often this season, Enfield's batting line-up collapsed from 46-2 to 102 all out. Petersen made 35 - leaving him 11 league runs short of the magical 1000.

It left David Bracewell's side in second off bottom place while the wooden spoon went to Accrington in a season they will be glad to see the back off.

They suffered a 50 run loss to league runners-up Ramsbottom and with this, now jointly hold the unwanted record of 24 league losses in a season with Colne, from 1991, and Rishton in 2003.

The Acrebottom side only set 159 after Mick Horfield took 4-22 and Damian Clarke 3-44. But Accrington couldn't get going with the bat with Sagawat Hussain top scoring with 27 while pro Tama Canning - who has made just 534 runs this season - scored only 18 as they were all out for 109.

Accrington are the only side looking for a new pro with Peiris returning to Church, Petersen back at Enfield while Rishton have offered terms to Dharmasena.