RADCLIFFE Cricket Club captain Chris Berry was left to rue the weather after his side were denied the chance to close the gap at the top of the Championship table.

The third-placed Homer Street men looked on course for victory at home to second-placed Middleton in the Central Lancashire League on Saturday before heavy rain forced the match to be abandoned.

Saif Ur-Rehman and professional Raheel Majeed did the damage with the ball taking 3-16 and 2-3 respectively as Middleton fell to 41-5.

Only Rhys Tierney (18) reached double figures for the visitors before Radcliffe's chance of a win was washed out, much to the frustration of Berry.

"It was annoying the game got rained off because we had them five wickets down with all their best batters out," he said.

"If the rain had held off a bit longer we would have won it.

"Instead of the five points for the win we only got two points which means we are still seven points behind Middleton in second place, albeit with a game in hand."

Radcliffe travel to fifth-placed Milnrow on Saturday before hosting runaway leaders Crompton home on Sunday in a crucial double header.

Now Berry is aiming to win the final four matches of the season to finish in the top two and stall Crompton's seemingly unstoppable surge to the title.

"It would be nice to finish in the top two in our final season in the CLL before joining the Greater Manchester Cricket League next year, that has been our aim all season," he said.

"To do that we need to win all four remaining games now.

"We've played two close matches against Crompton this season and lost them both but we know we are capable of beating them.

"They need just seven more points to clinch the title and we want to be the side to cause an upset and stop them claiming it this weekend."