RAMSBOTTOM were boosted in their battle to secure the Lancashire League runners-up slot behind Accrington when they put second-bottom hosts Bacup to the sword, bowling them out for 57 on Sunday.

That win followed Saturday’s five wicket success at Haslingden which put their challenge for the Holland Cup back on track.

Bacup collapsed from 38-1 when six wickets fell for the addition of two runs, as Ramsbottom skipper Jon Fielding took 6-15 from 11 overs.

Professional Pieter Malan took 3-8 with five maidens. Bacup’s Paddy Howley was the pick of the batters hitting 28 of his side’s runs from the top of the order.

Aaron Fielding also made 14 with six players failing to score.

Ramsbottom wicketkeeper Tom Parton claimed five catches and a stumping to go along with his unbeaten 30 with the bat.

Jamie Pilling, Rob Read and Malan all added runs to end the innings on 60-2, from just 8.5 overs, and take a comfortable win. On Saturday, Haslingden made 199-8 with professional Brenton Parchment top scoring on 43, including four fours and a five. Jack Taylor was first to go, caught by Matt Sutton off the fit-again Andy Hakin for 11. Skipper Graham Knowles became Hakin’s second victim when he was bowled for 16 with the score on 30. Parchment and Phil Hayes put on 70 before the West Indian holed out to his opposite number Malan at mid-off. Hayes (22) was next to go when he pulled a Sutton long hop to Rob Read at mid wicket to give the off spinner a wicket on his Lancashire League debut. Sam Halstead removed Lee Ingham to a low catch behind by Parton for 16. The paceman then clean bowled Muneeb Ahmed for four in a good spell at the end of the innings which brought him 3-47.

A 48-run seventh-wicket stand between Alex Marcroft (13) and Matt Griffin helped Haslingden set Ramsbottom 200 for victory. Griffin hit a fine unbeaten 38 with four boundaries. A first-wicket stand of 134 between Parton and veteran Mark Dentith set up the win. Parton made 69, including a dozen boundaries in his fifth half century of the season which took him past 500 runs. Dentith hit five fours and a six in making 57. Malan (24) and Pilling (13) also chipped in with Ingham taking 3-42 for Haslingden.