THERE was a clean sweep for Settle’s Ribblesdale League teams over the weekend with the 1st XI winning a T20 on Friday, then the Craven derby at Earby, with the seconds beating Stacksteads firsts at home and the Development XI successful at Read.

An entertaining T20 saw skipper Will Davidson smack 59 with six sixes in 26 balls against Whalley.

Sri Lankan pro Ashen Silva top-scored with 64 while Dante Niles was unbeaten on 34, giving Settle a formidable 196-5 from 20 overs. The visitors were never really in the hunt as Eddy Read (4-17) removed the top order in four overs, helping Settle win by 108 runs.

Although Earby are at the basement end of the Senior League, they rattled the visitors on Saturday by removing both openers with no runs on the board. Silva (62) then hit his fifth half-ton this season in a reassuring 64-run partnership with James Snowden (21).

Will Davidson posted 20 while brother Robbie just missed a half-century, racing to 49no from 45 balls, Settle closing on 182-6. Zak Qwaba took 4-51 for Earby.

Settle then picked Earby’s batting apar, Eddy Read (2-23) doing early damage before giving way to spinners Silva (4-21) and Niles (3-18) who reduced the hosts to 88 all out inside 31 overs.

Settle are nine points clear of Padiham at the top of the table, with a game in hand over the rest.

At Marshfield the 2nd XI inched their way to 118 all out, with captain Dan Strickland and Alex Dew making 19 apiece. But Stacksteads were then blown away by the pace of Harris Dinsdale (4-26) and the experience of John Tarbox (5-24), his five-wicket haul coming in 7.4 overs.

No batsman reached double figures. Despite this comfortable win, the seconds bow out of the Lawrenson Cup on overall group runs/wickets ratio.

The development XI were in difficulties at Read in Division Three, but a fighting unbeaten half-century from Elliot Marklew (53no) batting at seven, steered his side to 119-7.

Read’s reply was looking menacing until a resurrected Andrew Davidson came on to take a caught-and-bowled with his third ball. He handed over to Richard Bradley who produced a career-best 7-24 in eight overs, a stunning performance which cut Read off with just 99 runs.

This Friday the 1st XI return to Earby for a T20 clash and welcome Craven rivals Barnoldswick next day in the League, while the seconds are away in the corresponding Division One fixture.

In a new venture for division Three, the Development XI have more Craven entertainment in store, facing Earby on Friday and Barnoldswick on Saturday.