LITTLE Lever captain Joshua Gent hailed Zain Abbas “the best pro in the league” as his third consecutive century rooted Tonge to the bottom of the Bolton Cricket League on Saturday, writes Mikael McKenzie.

Abbas, the league’s leading run scorer with 393 runs, smashed seven fours and four sixes on his way to 108 as the Victory Road side opened the scoring.

His opening partner Ayaz Hanif also chipped in with 31 as they posted 212-7 at the end of their innings – with Iain McLellan (3-56) and Mansoor Ahmed (3-71) both bowling three wickets apiece.

Tonge, who have yet to pick up a single point this campaign, attempted to reply with Dave Bath who scored 28, but Craig Mann’s seven-wicket haul for 46 runs tore through the batting line-up and recorded the three-wicket victory inside 30 overs.

And skipper Gent is pleased with how his side is coming together after a difficult start to the season: “We lost our first two games of the season to Farnworth and Farnworth Social Circle and we have not been beat since then.

“It was a good win. Every win is a good win. I know Tonge are bottom of the league but you can only beat what is put in front of you.

“We are on the right way, we made good signings which has paid off for us and we have a very, very, very good team spirit and I think it will be difficult for anyone to beat us now.

“We have high hopes this time around and we hope to finish inside the top six as a minimum.

“It is his (Zain Abbas) third consecutive hundred and you can’t ask for much more than that. I would probably go as far as to say he is the best pro in the league.

“Craig Mann has also been bowling very well all season and has made the transition up from the second team and has evolved very well.”

Elsewhere, Walkden returned to winning ways with a three wicket-victory away to Kearsley.

The Springfield Road side started well with Grant Cordin scoring 44 as they posted 60-2 after 10 overs. But when Johnathan Fowler and Adnan Malik took control of the bowling wickets began to crumble as they took 4-44 and 3-17 respectively – dismissing the hosts for 146.

And the visitors’ sluggish start at the crease left them wondering if it wasn’t to be their day on 68-5 – but up stepped Ryan Ayres (40) and Fowler (46no) whose partnership took them over the line with three wickets to spare – despite the best efforts of Saeed Anwar Jnr (4-57).

Half-century’s for Matt Fray (50) and Imran Mirza (51) were unable to prevent Heaton from suffering a 48-run defeat at the hands of Bradshaw.

The Rigbys side opened the scoring as Kamran Younis hit 66 and Jon Kerrigan - who entered the crease at eighth in the batting order – finished 78 not out as Bradshaw posted 226-9.

Joe Ducker (3-62) and Haroon Farhat (3-68) were the most notable bowlers.

Fray and Mirza – who is the clubs top scorer with 223 runs this term – launched the reply but they couldn’t find a way past Steve Foster who bowled 6-71 as the Lower Pools side were dismissed for 174.