THE Bolton League title looks to be a straight fight between Tonge and Farnworth.

Both sides won their games on Saturday while third placed Kearsley dropped further behind after suffering defeat at Walkden.

For the two top teams it was Tonge's bowlers and Farnworth's batsmen that earned them success.

At Eagley Tonge dismissed the home side for a paltry 58 to clinch a seven wicket win.

Ian Taylor dominated on a tricky wicket picking up six wickets for 28 while Iqbal Sikander claimed the remaining four wickets for 30 as Eagley slumped from 34-3 to 36-9.

Tonge themselves stuttered at 11-2 in their reply but Nigel Partington's unbeaten 26 finally saw them safely home.

Brad Hodge's eighth century of the season made him the Bolton League's highest run-maker in a season while more importantly it earned Farnworth a 70 run win over Astley Bridge.

Hodge hit 130 and John Ratledge 66 not out before Farnworth declared at 207-1 with eight overs remaining. For a time it looked as if that might rebound on them as Phil Warren threatened with 61 not out but Scott Henderson's 4-31 and three wickets each for Carl Drinkwater and Danny Bryant dismissed them for 137.

The Walkden batsmen virtually ended Kearsley's championship campaign as they picked up a decisive double over the title chasers.

David Smith, Tony Keays and Steve Clarkson blitzed the Kearsley bowling to set up a thrilling eight wicket win in just 21 overs.

Smith led the reply to Kearsley's 167-8 with a stylish and quickfire 46, Keays played the important anchor role for 44 not outwhile Clarkson came in to rattle a rapid unbeaten 70, winning the match with two consecutive sixes.

Elsewhere, Little Lever leap-frogged Westhoughton to lay claim to fourth place after they beat Greenmount by seven wickets, Jason Swift hitting 92 and Jason Whittaker 5-42 following Kevin Geyer's 63 for the home side.

Westhoughton were dramatically dismissed for 70 at Bradshaw, Paul Rayment 5-42 and Ian Moss 4-24 while Simon Thompson cracked 37 runs off 19 deliveries to clinch a seven wicket win before the rains came down.

Elsewhere the weather ended games prematurely with Horwich 171-9 (Grant Long 71) against Egerton's 97-4 and Social Circle 200-3 (David Parkinson 64, David Beattie 59 and Richard Hope 51 not out) almost giving them a result against Heaton's 144-9 (Mike Bennison 59).

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