Baxenden skipper Ian Austin believes his team’s first Houldsworth Ribblesdale League defeat of the season could be a timely wake-up call for the senior division champions.

Read big hitter Chris Holt wrecked Baxenden’s 100 percent start and took his team to the top with a stunning innings at Back Lane.

Holt smashed 108 in just 64 balls to help the visitors to a six wicket win over their Back Lane hosts.

His match winning innings contained nine boundaries and seven sixes with Austin among the bowlers flogged to all sections of the ground.

"Holt gave us a couple of half chances we couldn’t take and then batted really well the longer his innings went on," said Austin.

"It’s disappointing to lose our unbeaten record.

"But if someone had given us five wins out of six before the start of the season, I think we would have settled for that.

"You don’t win the league in May but you can lose it if you don’t play well.

"Hopefully, the defeat will serve as a lesson to some of the younger players.

"They now know that teams are not going to lie down when they play us."

Austin (66) and Mark Rishton (57) helped Baxenden to 235-8 from their 45 overs with Holt claiming 3-40.

Read were rocking at 153-4 but Holt, initially riding his luck, guided the visitors home with nearly five overs to spare.

The Whalley Road side, third in 2009, now hold a three-point advantage over Baxenden as they chase a first title for six years.

They also boast the top flight’s only unbeaten record.

The hottest weekend of the season produced a record-breaking display at Gincroft Lane where Edenfield and Whalley amassed 580 runs.

This is the highest ever league aggregate, beating the 559 achieved by Blackburn Northern (307-8) and Oswaldtwistle (252-5) in 2006.

Whalley’s innings of 331-3 included 100 from Martin Davies and Kamram Younas’ 190 – the latter score’s topping Kashif Siddique’s 185 for Padiham in the PM & M Ramsbottom Cup earlier this month.

Bottom of the table Edenfield were 247-9 in reply when the overs ran out.

Padiham are upto fourth after their latest success over Great Harwood.

Indeed, an eight wicket win could have been even easier but for Stuart Maher’s rearguard action.

Maher came to the crease with Harwood 100-9 but compiled 50 to boost the final total to 157.

However, it was never going to be enough to deny Padiham who reached their target helped by John Bushell’s unbeaten 52.

Oswaldtwistle had to travel to Saddleworth League side Droylsden to play their senior game against Barnoldswick because of ongoing ground repairs at Victory Park.

And they came away with a three-wicket away win.

Gerard Metcalf claimed 5-59 as ‘Barlick’ were restricted to 177-8, Danny Metcalf then made 52 in ‘Ossie’s’ winning reply.

Clitheroe remain third despite a second defeat of the campaign against Settle.

Harry Boam took 5-23 from 10.4 overs as Clitheroe were dismissed for 113. Andrew McCracken anchored the reply with 53 not out.