EAGLEY progressed to the second round of the Hamer Cup after completing a perfect weekend by beating Little Hulton.

After an opening-day defeat to Walkden, the Dunscar side eased past Adlington on Saturday and defeated Little Hulton on Sunday.

Professional Fida Hussain single-handedly took the Old Vicarage Road side’s fight to Eagley with a knock of 116 not out.

However, his team-mates failed to follow suit and they were bowled out for 180 – Zaid Patel and Agha Salman the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-26 and 3-21 respectively.

Eagley replied strongly with the bat, opener Michael Ward knocking 46.

Skipper Asif Bhojani added 34 before professional Salman turned his hand to the bat to drive his side home to victory, scoring 55no.

The double-victory weekend has left Eagley's spirits high as captain Bhojani backed his side to continue the fine string of performances.

“It’s been a good weekend,” Bhojani said. “It was a good game against Little Hulton. Our lads have come together well over this last three weeks of cricket from when the friendlies began.

“We are a young set of lads and there is a lot of experience in this league so we are doing very well.

“Anyone can beat anyone and we’re just trying to compete in every game.

“Our professional Agha Salman has had a good season in Pakistan and we are confident he will have a better season than last year. He has started really well from the first ball he bowled.”

Elsewhere, Little Lever were brought crashing back to earth as Saturday’s impressive win against Farnworth was followed by a Sunday thumping at Astley Bridge.

Professional Adil Nisar’s (4-29) brilliant start to the season continued as he bowled Astley Bridge’s opening three batsmen out for a combined score of 20.

It was not until fifth-placed batsman Andrew Mills entered the crease the Sharples Park outfit cranked into gear.

Mills knocked 68no as a late rally from team-mates Yasir Rashid (31), Soyab Taylor (51) and Irfan Puda (16) boosted the score from 45-4 to 247-8 as the overs expired.

Nisar knocked 25 when he turned his hand to the bat but David Cryer (5-25) and Irfan Patel (4-32) led a bowling surge which saw the Victory Road side dismissed for 116 as Astley Bridge progressed to the second round.

Lostock’s losing start to the season continued as they were suffered defeat at the hands of Farnworth Social Circle.

The Piggott Park outfit started well when opener David Tonge scored 31. Jake Scicluna and Ryan Ayres added 57 and 48, respectively, before Chris Barrow chipped in with 43.

A swift late collapse with an over to spare was led by the bowling of David Flanagan and Tom Sheen, who took three wickets apiece.

Matthew Trow (26) and Hasnain Abbas (35) led the reply with the bat but Lostock were bowled out 73 runs shy of the target – mainly due to the bowling of Chris Barrow, who took 3-23.

Richard Dempster and Tim Barrow also chipped in with two wickets each.

Kearsley sub professional Somila Seyibokwe scored 115 as they knocked out Tonge.

Charlie Dorsey (39) and Mohammed Jameel (51) also scored high as Kearsley posted 279-7.

Connor Lord did the most damage with the ball taking 3-56.

Tonge professional Tilaksha Malshan struck 89 in reply but his side were bowled out for 183 as Dave Mather (3-33) and Cameron Murray (3-42) led the defence with the ball.

Adlington, Atherton, Bradshaw, Daisy Hill, Darcy Lever, Golborne, Farnworth, Heaton, Horwich, Walkden and Westhoughton all received byes into the second round.

The draw for the second round of the Hamer and Birtwistle Cups will be made at Darcy Lever CC tonight.

Sunday's results

Astley Bridge 247-8, Little Lever 116. Astley Bridge won by 131 runs.

Farnworth Social Circle 226, Lostock 153. Farnworth Social Circle won by 73 runs.

Little Hulton 180, Eagley 185-3. Eagley won by 7 wkts.

Tonge 183, Kearsley 279-7. Kearsley won by 96 runs.