SRI Lankan pro Amal Athulathmudali struck 89 runs off just 82 deliveries to steer Egerton to their second successive win in the Bolton League at Walkden on Saturday.

The hosts had been restricted to 154-9 despite South African Travis Townsends big knock of 79, with Egerton’s Stuart Hornby picking up 5-90 and aided by Amal Dalugoda (3-45).

In reply, Egerton reached 158 for the loss of just four wickets with Athulathmudali the main man, though Dalugoda weighed in with 30 runs.

Townsend returned the best bowling figures for Walkden of 1-21 while Rafi Afridi (1-24) took the wicket of Athulathmudali.

The two Farnworth sides also maintained their 100 per cent starts to the season.

Farnworth won by six wickets at Tonge after skittling the hosts out for just 72 – Victor Wallcott (4-18) and Chris Wilson (3-15) the pick of the bowlers.

Only wicketkeeper Craig Naylor (11) reached double figures for Tonge with extras of 22 the top score.

In reply, Farnworth strolled to 73-4 in less than 19 overs with Adil Nisar the top scorer with 26.

Meanwhile, Farnworth Social Circle also won away - by five wickets at champions Little Lever whose poor start to their title defence continued.

Professional Kamran Younis hit 64 and Simon Anderton 45 as the hosts reached 157 – Dave Mather (3-41) and Chris Barrow (3-39) the pick of the Social Circle bowlers.

After a short break for rain, the visitors had a reduced target of 145 to win and they ended on 150-5.

Pro Rameez Alam hit 57 not out while Tim Rees supported him with 38 and Barrow reached 34no.

Craig Mann was Little Lever’s best bowler with 2-33 as the champions lost to Farnworth opposition for the second weekend running.

Horwich are alongside the Farnworth sides at the top on 13 points after a 116-run win at home to Heaton.

Phil Cavill (59) and Chris Brownlow (39) helped the hosts to 183-8 despite a good display with the ball from Heaton bowler Alex Jones (4-51).

But he was outshone by Horwich duo Adam Street (5-26) and Babar Naeem (4-36) who demolished the Heaton attack. From a score of 50-6 after 25 overs, they collapsed to 67.

Yasir Rashid returned stunning figures of 8-17 from just 13 overs as Astley Bridge beat visitors Eagley.

Eagley were dismantled and all out for 55 in the first innings and the hosts comfrtaby reached their target, ending on 56-2.

Bradshaw were also victorious at home, bating Westhoughton by 82 runs.

The match was reduced to 47 overs a side with a wet outfield on one side at The Rigbys resulting in a shortened boundary and a delayed start.

Batting first, the home side posted 170 with captain Saeed Anwar Jnr hitting 40, including six fours, and Gary Garner 39.

Westhoughton pro Qaiser Abbas took 4-53 while Atiq Uz-Zaman returned figures of 4-33.

Two rain delays meant the visitors had a revised target of 161 off 43 overs but Steve Foster (4-26) and Phil Dickinson (4-30) made sure they did not reach three figures.

Only two batsmen reached double figures with wicketkeeper Kieran Paisley top scoring on 21 as Westhoughton lost their last four wickets for just seven runs to end on 88.

Elsewhere, Greenmount skipper Andy Kerr hit 71 in his side’s 83-run win at Kearsley.

Ata Ur-Rehman, Sabah Ghause and Joe McCann took three wickets apiece as Greenmount’s inning ended on 221-9.

Pro Akbar Ur-Rehman took 4-28 and Phil Heaton 3-48 helped Greenmount bowl their hosts out for 138, Peter Malan top scoring with 28.

 

Results - Saturday, April 26

Walkden 154-9, Egerton 158-4. Egerton won by 6 wkts.

Little Lever 157, Farnworth SC 150-5. Farnworth SC won by 5 wkts (revised target).

Horwich 183-8, Heaton 67. Horwich won by 116 runs.

Kearsley 138, Greenmount 221-9. Greenmount won by 83 runs.

Astley Bridge 56-2, Eagley 55. Astley Bridge won by 8 wkts.

Bradshaw 170, Westhoughton 88. Bradshaw won by 82 runs.

Tonge 72, Farnworth 73-4. Farnworth won by 6 wkts.