By Mikael McKenzie

ANDY Griffiths fell two runs short of his century as Kearsley ended Westhoughton’s unbeaten start to the season with a 100-run victory on Saturday.

Saeed Anwar Jnr set the pace early on hitting 43, before Griffiths stepped in and scored 98 not out.

Charlie Dorsey came to the crease late on and smashed five sixes to finish 43no off 26 balls – leaving Westhoughton a target of 220-6, Paul Hart the only bowler of note taking 3-55.

Qaisar Abbas struck 28 in reply, but it was Anwar Jnr’s seven-wicket haul for 37 runs which stole the show as he helped Kearsley wipe their opponents out for 120.

League leaders Egerton recorded the narrowest of wins as they beat Eagley by one run.

Lancashire’s under-18 star Haseeb Hameed scored 40 and Anthony Clegg added 47no as Egerton opened with 138-9 – Awais Zia bowling 5-63.

And when Zia turned his hand to the bat he top-scored with 51 as Eagley stormed to 122-5.

Needing only 17 runs with five wickets to spare the win looked all but in the bag.

But the in-form Adam Street took 4-26 and Amal Dalugoda bowled 3-51 to dismiss Eagley for 137.

Rain limited Astley Bridge’s encounter with Farnworth Social Circle to 25 overs per side.

Tim Barrow scored 45 and David Tonge added 34 as Farnworth SC posted 143-8. Dave Cryer took most of the wickets bowling 6-68.

In reply Simon Entwistle scored 44 and Syd De Silva chipped in with 38 but Chris Barrow’s 3-53 set up a tense finish, in which Astley Bridge ran out four-wicket victors.

Tonge remain cemented to the bottom of the league after a woeful batting performance at home to Heaton.

Mansoor Ahmed was in top bowling form as he took 6-51, including seven maidens. Dave Bath bowled the remaining four wickets for 40 as Heaton were all out for 98 – Imran Mirza top-scoring with 32.

With a very low target to aim for Tonge looked nervy as the three openers were all dismissed for nought.

The bowlers were having a field day and Mirza (4-12) and Joe Ducker (4-18) saw the hosts off for 39.

Walkden overcame the challenge of Greenmount to win by 19 runs.

Rafal Afridi (40), Taylor Heyes (38) and Ryan Ayres (32) set Walkden on their way to a score of 167. Mark Stewart (4-47) and Phil Heaton (3-52) were the most notable bowlers.

Andrew Kerr’s 44 runs were not enough to salvage a comeback, as Ayres’ (6-30) brilliant bowling capped Greenmount at 148 all out.

Bradshaw recorded a two-run victory over Farnworth in a game that was reduced to 35 overs.

Little Lever versus Horwich was abandoned without play.

RESULTS

Astley Bridge 145-6, Farnworth Social Circle 143-8.  Astley Bridge won by 4 wkts.

Bradshaw vs Farnworth.  Bradshaw won by two runs.

Eagley 137, Egerton 138-9.  Egerton won by one run.

Kearsley 220-6, Westhoughton 120.  Kearsley won by 100 runs.

Little Lever vs Horwich - abandoned.

Tonge 39, Heaton 98.  Heaton won by 59 runs.

Walkden 167, Greenmount 148.  Walkden won by 19 runs.