SEVEN-wicket hauls for Steve Foster and Qaisar Abbas ensured Bradshaw and Westhoughton both secured much-needed victories against Astley Bridge and Heaton respectively.

Tom Liversedge struck a century as he led Bradshaw to victory. The opener hit 14 fours and two sixes in 136 balls to score 107, which aided his side in posting a healthy 245-8.

Kamran Younis also added 36 and Stuart Hornby chipped in with 24 – despite the best efforts of Dave Cryer (4-65) and Syd De Silva (4-90).

Steve Foster’s bowling figures of 7-29 ensured Astley Bridge never really had a chance to get going and were bowled out for 73 – skipper Simon Entwistle top-scoring with 22.

Qaisar Abbas’ seven-wicket haul helped Westhoughton edge a low-scoring affair with Heaton.

Matt Fray (42) and Adam Halton (14) were the only batters to hit double figures as the Lower Pools outfit were dismissed for 80 – which was mainly due to Abbas’ brilliant bowling of 7-38.

Rob Brown and Sean Dunning scored 33 and 24 respectively in reply, but no other batsmen hit higher than five. Joe Ducker (3-24) and Imran Mirza (2-22) bowled well to have Westhoughton at 79-7, but a number of dropped catches at the death enabled the St. George’s Oval side to secure the win.

Elsewhere, Farnworth Social Circle recorded a home victory against Kearsley.

The visitors started slowly with captain Saeed Anwar Jnr scoring 48 off 132 balls but with little support his side were bowled out for 146 – which was mainly down to the brilliant bowling attack of Chris Barrow (6-43) and Dave Mather (3-54).

Opener David Tonge smashed his way to 55 hitting six fours and five sixes, before Andrew Lane and Barrow added 35 and 31 respectively to see the target off to the loss of eight wickets – of which Mohammed Jameel (3-33) and Anwar Jnr (3-45) took three apiece.

Results

Astley Bridge 73, Bradshaw 245-8. Bradshaw won by 172 runs.

Eagley 133, Walkden 101. Eagley won by 32 runs.

Egerton 303-9, Tonge 99. Egerton won by 204 runs.

Farnworth 229-1, Little Lever 117. Farnworth won by 112 runs.

Farnworth Social Circle 148-8, Kearsley 146. Farnworth SC won by two wkts.

Greenmount 181-8, Horwich 178. Greenmount won by 2 wkts.

Westhoughton 81-7, Heaton 80. Westhoughton won by 3 wkts.