LANCASHIRE hot prospect Andrea Agathangelou lit up the opening day of the Houldsworth Solicitors Ribblesdale League as he led Settle to a stunning win over Read – but even the brilliant Cypriot South African couldn’t completely lift the first day gloom as rain was the big winner.

Agathangelou is filling in as Settle pro for the first three games as the Dalesmen await the arrival of Mansoor Amjad.

And he showed his class as his temporary side travelled to last year’s runners-up Read.

The former Rishton paid man made a quite sparkling 145 not out as Settle piled on the pain.

He helped Settle up to 243-6 as the runs flowed. Read quite fancied their chances of chasing that total down and they started sprightly but just failed to get home despite the best efforts of Elliot Artingstoll.

He made 98 not out as his men got up to 231-5 but were 12 runs short.

Last year’s wooden spoon side Earby also began on a high as they beat Cherry Tree.

Cherry took first knock and posted 135-8. Earby were 75-3 when the rain came down – but having faced more than the 20 overs needed to constitute a game they won on run-rate.

However, that result could yet be overturned as the league executive will investigate whether Earby chased down a miscalculated target in the game at The Applegarth.

Oswaldtwistle’s Oliver Clare hit 47, while skipper Jon Baldwin made 38 as they posted 179-9 against Ribblesdale Wanderers before the rain and there was frustration for title favourites Clitheroe and Great Harwood who were forced to settle for five points.

Edenfield and Salesbury were left to kick their heels, while Baxenden employed former pro Babar Naeem as substitute for their opener with Whalley – and the big hitter rolled back the years as he made 102 not out with Bash reaching 150-1 in 29 overs before the rain came down.

New boys Brooksbottom were forced to switch their opener from their own Brox ground to Rishton’s Blackburn Road – and Padiham got into the groove after being put in.

Their innings was also affected by the rain but they managed to get up to 183-6 from their 32 overs with Anthony Hall top scoring with 56.