BAXENDEN star Simon Payne reckons being crowned as Ribblesdale League champions is the perfect end to his cricketing career.

And he enjoyed a double family celebration as his old club Lowerhouse, captained by his brother-in-law, picked up the Lancashire League title to round-off an amazing weekend.

Payne and the rest of his Bash team-mates won the title while they were sat in the Padiham dressing room on Saturday as the rain wiped out the entire programme.

24 hours later his brother-in-law Charlie Cottam led Lowerhouse to their moment of glory.

And to make it a three-mendous occasion, Payne’s nephew, Charlie’s son Henry, made his debut for Lowerhouse under 9s despite being just six.

“It’s an amazing weekend really,” said Payne, who has decided to call time on a career that began at Lowerhouse back in 1992.

“I can’t think of a better way to bow out than by winning the title.

“And for Lowerhouse to win the Lancashire League on the same weekend is also special, especially with my family connection with Charlie.

"It was a good couple of days.”

Payne, who has scored more than 2,500 runs in his Baxenden career, admits that winning in a dressing room was not the ideal way to claim the crown – but says that their nerves were on edge all afternoon.

“We needed to get four more overs in to constitute the 20 overs you need for a match at Padiham,” he said.

“But the rain wouldn’t stop and we had heard that Read had bowled Earby out for just 59 – so their situation was different.

“We were hanging around and hanging around and Mark Rishton was on the phone to Stephen Hipgrave at Earby to find out what was happening.

“We were nervous because we didn’t want to go down to the last day at Settle having to get a result.”

And there was almost late drama moments after skipper Andy Caunce and Padiham captain John Bushell called their game off.

“Cauncey said there was no chance of the rain stopping and shook hands with Bush,” said Payne.

“But about 10 minutes later it stopped raining. Cauncey went white!

“Then Rishy and myself were stood outside having a cigarette because we were nervous and a text came through from Herbie (Hipgrave) saying Earby and Read was off and we could start the celebration.”

Following the retirement of Ian Austin and the loss of spinner Garry Sudworth to Haslingden, Bash were not expected to be major challengers this term.

But Payne said: “Cauncey has come in and brought David Mills and Liam Riley in and they have done really well.

“Losing Oscar and Gaz was a blow but the new lads were a great addition – and over the season we really have played well.”