RECORD tumbled - but so did Church as they lost out in a mammoth match to rivals East Lancs.

The league leaders put on a stunning display with the bat with pro Ruven Peiris breaking the club's league batting record with his unbeaten 172.

He hit 22 fours and six sixes on a flat wicket to take the record off Geoff Parker who hit 146 in 1990. And now the Sri Lankan has 962 runs for the season - and could take another record off Parker beating his 1250 runs for the season.

The modest man, though, is playing down his part.

"It was nice to get my first century in this league," said Peiris, whose previous best was 99. I enjoyed it. It was a nice day, there were a lot of people watching but unfortunately we lost - but that's cricket.

"I didn't come here to break records, I just came to see if I could bat through the overs every match and play my normal game. I will still be pleased if I can reach 1000 runs and we have just got to win as many games out of the last seven as possible and see what happens. We are playing as a team now and we know we can win games but the title is wide open."

Church bowler Andy Bentley - promoted from number 11 to number three - also came up with the goods celebrating his maiden half centry with 61. And Sam Holt enjoyed knocking the ball around lower down the order hitting a quick fire 34 off 31 balls.

Church amassed a superb 306-4, overtaking the league's club record of 305 which had been set against Enfield in 1938.

The Blackburn Road side must have been fairly confident but then East Lancs paid man Quinton Friend stunned everybody with his knock of 151 - his career best score and he too beat East Lancs league record of 149 not out set in 1923. He hit some of the balls out of Blackburn Road with 14 fours and nine sixes - previously he had hit 178 runs altogether in 10 matches."Quinton turned it around for them, his innings changed the game," said Peiris.

Phil Bolton (76), Andy Clague (39 no) and Mark Lomas (28 no) saw East Lancs through with 13 balls left.

Former Burnley pro Dale Benkenstein scored a superb 122 for Rishton against his former club - but also ended up on the losing side. Burnley set a league record seventh wicket stand of 127 - with former Turf Moor skipper Andy Mcleod hitting a career best 123. Shaun Hutchinson starred with the ball with 4-43 as Burnley were all out for 234.

Despite South African Benkenstein's 122, Rishton made just 183 and the league's bottom club celebrated only their second win of the season.

Enfield's paid man Alviro Petersen was also in the runs with 89 - but he too ended up on the losing side against Rawtenstall.

Title chasers Rawtenstall made 217-9 with Imran Abid the leading wicket taker for Mas Ahmed's side with 5-50. Petersen hit 15 fours in his haul before he was caught by Peter Seal and then Rawtenstall's veteran wicket-taker Keith Roscoe finished Enfield off with 7-32 - and he just needs six wickets now for 1000.

And it wasn't a good day for Accrington against Bacup, who had been out of sorts. The Thorneyholme Road side struggled with the bat with skipper Matt Wilson top scoring with 27 in their 106. Bacup's prolific wicket taker David Ormerod took 6-43.

The Lanehead side were always comfortable although 15-year-old Sagawat Hussain celebrated his first two senior wickets for Accrington after starring in the Hyndburn town team side.

  • ACCRINGTON umpires Ivan Smith and Duncan Warburton were in charge of the Second XI Cup final which was won by Burnley, who defeated East Lancs last weekend.