Ash traps Matt Egan as East Lancs are bowled out for 83 ©Nigel Stockley

Accrington moved up to third place after a 6 wicket win at East Lancs on the day that saw both Accrington and Lowerhouse win their games in hand on the other top teams. Accrington professional Ashar Zaidi took 5-25 to bowl East Lancs out for 83 on a day of low scores. Former skippers David Ormerod (2-29 from 20 overs) and Jimmy Hayhurst (2-26) also chipped in with a couple of wickets apiece. East Lancs skipper and professional Ockert Erasmus fought an almost lone battle finishing unbeaten on 17 from 90 balls as his partners perished one after the other and he then took 3-13 from 8 overs as his team-mates were flayed to all parts of the ground. Accrington knocked off the runs in the 17th over and maximum points were secured by 4.45pm. Aijaz Shah was unbeaten on 34 from 29 balls with three fours and two sixes, the second of which sailed over the sightscreen behind him after he top edged Nick Turner, who conceded 30 from just 21 balls. Zaidi also hit 20 and opener Stuart Crabtree 11 after the innings got underway with wides accounting for the first 7 runs scored. New opener Nick Turner fell in Ormerod's first over before a run had been scored and it was a steady procession to and from the pavilion to the wicket on the far end of the square at the Park End. Hayhurst picked up left handers Minhaj Bhada bowled behind his legs and veteran Dave Pearson who made 10 before falling leg before. John Turner made 16 before falling to Ormerod and then Zaidi ran through the rest of the East Lancs batting apart from David Turner who was brilliantly run out by a Simon Hanson direct hit. David Turner removed Marley Ali (1) at 18 and Erasmus picked up Crabtree 9 runs later. Zaidi holed out to Pearson after a brisk 20 and Andy Greenwood played on for 4. Skipper Graham Lloyd (7 not out) came in to make sure his side went home with maximum points.