EVENTS at Settle have tended to dominate the news from the Veka Ribblesdale League this season and last weekend was no exception as the Marshfield men took over top spot from Read thanks to a comfortable win over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel and the leaders' defeat by Great Harwood.

What Settle wouldn't have given the following day for Stuart Hornby's league performance which blasted the visitors out for 63 when they chased a 208-5 tally..

Hornby claimed four wickets in four ball and five in seven as Oswaldtwistle collapsed, an 8-26 return from 12.1 overs enabling Settle to take advantage of Read's reverse at Great Harwood.

While Morris has been stealing the thunder at Settle, in West Craven, the two oversees professionals have been even more prolific.

Leading the way is Barnoldswick's Jeeva Kulatunga, who hit another majestic 129 against Baxenden to take his total for the season to 1,075 at an average of 71.67 per innings.

He crashed six sixes and 18 fours in his 96-ball onslaught and for the second successive week, featured in a 200-plus opening partnership with Ian Scothern, their third of the season.

They were finally parted at 208 when Kulatunga was dismissed, but Scothern went on to reach 78, with 11 fours and two sixes, as Baxenden's 243-1 total was overhauled for the loss of three wickets.

Prior to Saturday's games, Earby's Mohammed Ayub was the top Craven run-getter, but he was only able to advance his tally to 968 after being dismissed for four by Simon Bishop.

The disappointment for Ayub was that in claiming 4-32 from 15.1 overs when Clitheroe batted at The Applegarth, he had helped to put Earby in a winning position, the visitors being dismissed for 108.

And so it seemed as Paul Tilbury (28no) held the innings together in the face of some more tight bowling, although at 107-9 the game was still in the balance when the last ball arrived with Derrick Proud facing.

Unfortunately for Earby, it proved to be a delivery he could not survive, his stumping by Simon Coulter off Neil Bibby's bowling handing the visitors all seven points.