THE cricket season may have only just have started - but Baxenden wouldn't mind it finishing now!

The Back Lane side are currently sitting at the top of the table - albeit alphabetically - but are quite happy to enjoy their moment as the league leaders.

"We can only go downhill now," joked skipper Dave Usher after Baxenden, whose opener was rained off on April 16, enjoyed a 58 run win over Earby at the weekend.

"In the nine years I have been at Baxenden I don't think we have ever had a good start to the season so, with winning our second game, we are quite happ with that."

And this is all without their Sri Lankan pro Indika Gallage who was here for their first rained-off game and then he flew back home for a competition for his club side last weekend.

The bowler is expected to make his Bash debut in this weekend's double header.

"At least we hope so," said the captain. "When he came over at first it was snowing and he had never seen snow before. We are worried he won't come back!"

But the Test player comes with high praise and Baxenden are hoping he can keep them at the top for as long as possible.

And this weekend will be an early test of any title ambitions as they face Rambottom Cup holders Settle tomorrow followed by title hopefuls Great Harwood in the local derby at Back Lane on Sunday.

"They are two good games for the pro to come into," said the captain. "They are a test for us and he will get a measure of our league by playing against two of the better sides.

"We have had some good games against Settle. - we tend to do okay against them. Last year we were unlucky to lose at their place and then we beat them at home. I tip them to be up there though."

And then it is Russell Whalley's Great Harwood who, after a win over Settle in their opening fixture, then slipped to defeat against champions Read last Saturday.

"Great Harwood are always a strong side and we haven't had too much success against them in the years I have been here," continued the Baxenden captain. "They play positive cricket and they play it the same way so they can get 250 or be all out for 80. You just never know but it is good cricket."

Usher is confident he will have his strongest side out as South African Francois Herbst - who is playing rugby over here - will make his debut in Sunday's clash.

And they will be boosted by the win over Earby. The captain Dave Usher hit 64 - with eight fours and two sixes - while brother Pete took 5-13.

"We did well," said Usher. "Our top four amateurs all got in the 20s on a difficult wicket and then we were able to bowl them out - and Pete seemed to enjoy doing that! And sub pro Graham Onions, from Durham, did well for us."

Harwood will be disappointed they weren't able to capitalise on their opening day win over Settle against Read especially with pro Martin Nurse playing his first game for the Cliffe Park side.

They were undone by Read stalwart Terry Little whose unbeaten century helped his side to the mammoth 234-3.

Big hitting Nurse made 34 - with one four and four sixes in an entertaining knock - while skipper Whalley made 43 after a half ton last week.

It had looked good with Harwood on 90-1 but they lost three swift wickets and fell 41 runs short.

Oswaldtwistle will be disappointed they didn't get one over on last season's bottom club Whalley.

They were reliant on sub pro S Mahood as Indian professional Raja Ali had still not arrived. Kurt Smithson took 4-28 as Whalley were out for 146.

The Immanuel openers fell cheaply with Oliver Clare and Ryan Duxbury back in the pavilion without getting on the scoresheet. Captain Gerald Metcalf and his son Andrew tried to make a fight of it in the middle order with 24 apiece but they ended 41 runs short.

Oswaldtwistle will hope to chalk up their first win at home to Barnoldswick tomorrow or at Cherry Tree on Sunday.

Great Harwood, ahead of the Baxenden derby, will hope to get back to winning ways against Ribblesdale Wanderers tomorrow.