At Hare Hill, the 1st XI were defeated by the delayed play rule despite being in a dominant position, whereas at TowUp at Littleborough, home side skipper Phil Deakin won the toss and elected to bat first.

 After 4 overs, they had not scored a solitary run after some fine spells of bowling from Rick Valentine and deputy Processional David Wiese of South Africa.

After 10 overs Littleborough were 21 for 1 with Wiese taking the wicket of Danny Thewlis for 7, caught by square leg by Phil Tomlinson.

Matt Foden joined Gary Hulme and took the home side to 57 when Foden played all around one from the returning Tomlinson, this after playing some lovely cover drives earlier on in his knock.

South African Professional Darren Smith joined Hulme and moved the total up to 101 when Hulme was pouched by Wiese again off Tomlinson for 40.

Wicket-machine Daniel Core got the Littleborough skipper Deakin for 11, again caught by Wiese and the prized wicket of Smit also went to the off spinner – Danny Royle taking a superb catch at square leg with the South African on 51.

The home side finished up on 197 for 8 thanks to some lusty blows from Callum Rushton, although it was a good effort from the Moonrakers to keep Littleborough under 200.

Once again Core was the main man with 3 for 31 from 8 overs – making it a 9 wicket weekend for the youngster. Phil Tomlinson bowled well on his return (2 for 28) and Dale Highton was a touch unlucky to finish with just 2 wickets.

Middleton set off like a house on fire as Scott Stanworth and Steve Davey rattled up 50 in just 9 overs. However, with the score on 53, Davey was run out after slipping – the big left hander making 14 from 29 deliveries.

Wiese joined Stanworth and brought up Middleton’s 5th partnership of 50 of the weekend in quick time – the pair continuing the assault that Davey and the wicketkeeper had started.

Stanworth hit his 2nd half century of the weekend in quick time before rain started to fall.

Wiese was on 32 not out and more importantly Middleton 116 for 1 – needing just 82 for victory in 24 overs – before the rain started to fall.

However, in what is one of the most bizarre incidents you’ll ever likely to hear of, the Moonrakers ended up losing the game on the run rate rule despite being in the box seat. However, they did manage to take a bonus point for getting 75% of Littleborough’s total.

Littleborough won on the delayed play rule.

- The highly anticipated clash between second and third in the league at Towncroft ended with two points each as the rain began at 6pm and did not cease, so captains Reece Jones and Gar Hunter had to shake hands with the tilting in Middleton's favour.

Batting first, Middleton amassed 213 for 9 with contributions from all of the top six, with their captain tops scoring with 61

Bizarrely they twice they lost three wickets without scoring a run, on 176 and on 211. Adam Rose taking a hat-trick with the score on 211.

Rain started to fall during the tea-interval but it quickly eased and only 5 minutes of play time were lost.

Callum Bamford and Gary Nash opened for Littleborough  facing the formidable opening attack of Mark Buckley and Richard Fitton.

With the score on 25 Gary Nash's off-stump was sent flying and 3 deliveries later Dave Williamson was on his way back to the pavilion, Marvyn Dickinson juggling the catch at point before claiming the catch.

Bamford and Matthew Bood took the score to 54 before Bood was bowled with the first ball of Tom Currie's spell. And before Adam Rose could take guard the rain came and the covers came on and never left the pitch.

Match Abandoned. 2 points each.

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