FARNWORTH remain in top spot after defeating early title favourites Westhoughton in their own back yard, writes Mikael McKenzie.

The visitors opened the batting and went on the attack from the off as the first five batters all hit double figures (Chris Baxendale 10, Ross Sutton 24, Steven Collins 20, Adil Nisar 37 and Kamran Sajid 23).

Melbourne Austin was the sixth batter to surpass the double figure mark chipping in with 15 – but Kieran Edwards did his best to constrict the score bowling 6-75. Qaiser Abbas also took 3-50 as the early league leaders were bowled out for 166.

Openers Rob Houghton (29) and Danny Naylor (32) launched the response but the in-form bowling duo of Terry Rollock (5-57) and Nisar (5-47) dismissed Westhoughton 22 runs short of the target.

Greenmount kept up the hot pursuit of Farnworth with a convincing five-wicket win over struggling Eagley.

Saif Bhojani (59) and Awais Zia (75) helped Eagley on their way to 187-8 – with Mark Stewart (5-62) taking most of the wickets.

In reply Phil Ingram (45), Ryan Senior (61) and Travis Townsend (41) all scored high to finish on 191-5 to record the victory.

Dave Mather’s fourth five-wicket haul of the season ensured Farnwoth Social Circle leapfrogged their opponents Egerton into fourth with a 65-run victory.

The Piggott Park outfit batted first and Matthew Parkinson (35) and Chris Barrow (55no) scored over half of their side’s 178-7 between them. Adam Street (4-48) and Amal Dalugoda (3-69) taking the wickets.

Declan Dudley top-scored for the visitors with 25, but the day belonged to Mather who took a personal season best of 6-56 off 23.3 overs - which included five maidens. Barrow also turned his hand to the ball and bowled 3-26 as Egerton were seen off for 113.

Astley Bridge picked up their third win of the season away to Horwich.

Tom Billington (32) top-scored for the hosts, who struggled to find any rhythm with the bat thanks to impressive bowling from Syd De Silva (5-25) and Amal Athulathmudali (4-44).

Athulathmudali turned his hand to the bat and struck 68 not out as Astley Bridge replied with two wickets to spare - Babar Naeem (4-48) and Rakeeb Mahmood (4-43) the notable bowlers.

Results

Farnworth SC 178-7 Egerton 113. Farnworth SC won by 65 runs.

Greenmount 191-5 Eagley 187-8. Greenmount won by 5 wkts.

Heaton 174 Bradshaw 226-9. Bradshaw won by 52 runs.

Horwich 114 Astley Bridge 117-8. Astley Bridge won by 2 wkts.

Kearsley 146 Walkden 147-7. Walkden won by 3 wkts.

Little Lever 212-7 Tonge 95. Little Lever won by 117 runs.

Westhoughton 144 Farnworth 166. Farnworth won by 22 runs.