TIM Wallwork played a captain's innings to steer Eagley to a thrilling win in the Bolton League's Hamer Cup final.

In a low scoring match, Eagley bowled out Westhoughton for a meagre 85 and at 27-2 in reply Eagley appeared to be in control, but then four wickets fell for four runs to put Westhoughton on top, with spin bowler Mike Crookson a particular threat.

A quick 15 from Mahboob gave Eagley hope, but at 53 for 9 the match looked over

That is when Wallwork took control along with number 11 batsman Steve Foster.

Together they resisted all that Westhoughton bowlers had to offer, Wallwork picking his shots with care while his partner played the sheet anchor role.

Westhoughton missed a couple of chances to end the partnership and were punished when Wallwork started to attack the bowling, taking 18 runs off two overs from Mubarak Patel, who had earlier taken the two important wickets of Mahboob and James Shuttleworth.

Wallwork, with two runs over long off, eventually steered Eagley to a victory as unlikely as the one against the same opponents in 1979, when they faced a similar uphill task. Wallwork finished on 30 not out and Foster three not out in a 33 run partnmership.

In the face of strong claims from bowlers Crookson, Seddon and Mahboob, Tommy Hughes correctly made Wallwork man-of the-match.

Earlier Westhoughton suffered an early blow when skipper Steve Parker was bowled by ex team mate Shahid Mahboob off the last ball of the first over.

Ian Pilkington followed in the fourth over with just seven on the board and Brad White and Rick Parker added a further 13, the second highest partnership of the innings, but both fell in quick succession.

After the dismissal of Mark Atherton, Alan Gaskell and top scorer Paul Atherton added 31, but Martin Seddon was introduced into the attack, and just before a prolonged break for rain had Gaskell caught by Chris Lord for 13.

The final five wickets fell for just 18 runs with Seddon taking four of them for only five runs.

Westhoughton

S Parker b Mahboob...2

White c Wallwork b Mitchell...7

I Pilkington lbw Mitchell...0

R Parker b Mahboob...14

A Gaskell c Lord b Seddon...13

M Atherton b Mahboob...7

P Atherton c Lord b Seddon...21

M Crookson c Wallwork b Mahboob...0

A Pindora not out...12

M Patel lbw Seddon...0

D Preston b Seddon...0

Extras...9

Total ...85

Bowling: Mahboob 20-4-45-4, Mitchell 6-1-13-2, Foster 6-1-17-0, Seddon 8-4-5-4.

Eagley

P McDermott c Parker b Crookson...4

T Rees c Patel b Crookson...17

D Shuttleworth c Pindora b White...1

Mitchell c Crookson b White...4

C Lord lbw Crookson...3

S Mahboob c R Parker b Patel...15

J Shuttleworth lbw Patel...0

M Seddon c White b Crookson...5

D Tonge lbw Crookson...1

T Wallwork not out...30

S Foster not out...3

Extras...3

Total (for 9)...86

Bowling: Preston 3-0-6-0, White 10-3-16-2, Crookson 18-8-23-5, Patel 10-2-38-2.

Eagley won by one wicket SCOREBOARD