BOLTON LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Third-time lucky for leaders Bradshaw

After suffering two defeats to the Recreation Ground outfit earlier this season, in the Lancashire Knockout and Hamer Cup, Bradshaw were determined to avoid a hat-trick of disappointments.

And the heavyweight clash started well for The Rigbys outfit as tight bowling from Darcy Cotter, who took 2-19, had Horwich on the ropes at 24-3.

Horwich fought back, with Brett Pelser (29) and Fazil Hassan (60) leading the charge to reach 179-9, but Marwan Mohammad always kept them in check, finishing with impressive figures of 4-49.

An unbeaten century from professional Sachithra Serasinghe (101 not out) ensured Bradshaw passed their target, guiding them over the line with partner Rob Hardman (14no).

The victory ensures Bradshaw remain top of the table and the only side in the top flight yet to taste a league defeat this season.

“It was a really good win,” said Bradshaw skipper Nick Lester.  “We were missing three key players – our two opening batsmen, Tom Liversedge and Stuart Hornby, as well as Scott Howarth – but some of the second-team lads stepped in and did really well.

“It shows the strength in depth that we have. When you are missing senior players like those you need your pro to step up, too, and he did that.

“It was the third time we have played Horwich this season and we have been on the losing side twice so it was good to finally get one over on them.

“We wanted to be up near the top of the table, but we are only six games in, about a third of the way through, so there is still plenty of cricket left yet.”

Westhoughton moved up to third in the table after their bowlers pulled off a stunning fightback in a low-scoring game against 2016 champions Farnworth Social Circle.

Danny Naylor scored 35 as the Howfeners were bowled out for 124, with Social Circle’s Ryan Ayres (5-66) doing most of the damage with the ball.

Social Circle’s reply faltered from the start as Oliver Newby (6-18) and Qaiser Abbas (4-4) tore through the batting line-up, giving away only 44 runs.

Meanwhile, Lostock returned to winnings ways with a four-wicket victory at home to Eagley.

David Flanagan and Rob Holgate took 6-49 and 4-39, respectively, as Eagley were bowled out for 118, with Agha Salman top-scoring with 29.

Matthew Leach hit an unbeaten 29 in reply as Lostock chased down their target inside 35 overs, despite Zaid Patel and Will Shuttleworth taking three wickets apiece.

Walkden picked up their second win of the season away to Heaton. Tayler Heyes (30), Ben Smith (42) and Asif Zakir (24) all impressed with the bat early on for Walkden but their innings tailed off as they were bowled out for 161.

Muhammad Irfan (6-42) and Raheel Majeed (3-52) starred with the ball.

Majeed then struck 32 but his side were dismissed 23 shy of the target.

Farnworth skipper Simon Booth believes his side are beginning to show their quality after putting a poor start to the season behind them.

The Bridgeman Park outfit chased down 212 to beat Kearsley at home.

The visitors started slowly and only picked up the pace when Cameron Murray (70) took to the crease.

Andrew Griffiths added 42 before the Springfield Road side were bowled out – Imran Mirza (4-73) and Dan Higham (5-60) doing the damage with the ball.

Farnworth’s sub professional Zain Abbas starred with the bat in reply, scoring 96 not out, and he was backed up by Mirza, who struck 58.

The target was chased down with five wickets to spare, meaning Farnworth leapfrogged their opponents into second place in the Bolton League Premiership Division.

“We have started playing some decent cricket now after a slow start to the season,” said skipper Booth. “We are coming into our stride, you could say.

“Kearsley started really slowly and after 25 overs only had 57 on the board.

“We knew from there we would only be chasing about 220 at the maximum.

“Our sub pro batted really well and is probably the first sub pro we have had in a long time that has hit more than 40 – by a long time I mean about 10 years.”

Abbas, who plays for Church in the Lancashire League, stepped in for professional Shaquille Cumberbatch, who was invited to play in a prestigious T20 tournament in Mauritius.

Booth added: “Shaq came to us and asked if he could go and play in the Mauritius T20, which is a week long and an off-shoot of the IPL (Indian Premier League). For financial reasons, the opportunity for him to play over there was too good to turn down and we could not stand in his way.

“There are a lot of international players playing over there, so it will be a great experience for the lad.”

Daisy Hill captain Steven Chilton praised his side’s bowling attack after they comfortably beat Golborne by eight wickets in the Association Division.

Tim Halliday top scored for Golborne with 34 not out but the Simpson Field side were dismissed for 110 as Neil Tong took 7-49.

Professional Adnan Raees spearheaded the reply with an unbeaten knock of 75 to wrap up a comfortable win that kept Daisy within touching distance of leaders Atherton.

“Neil Tong put in a long spell of bowling and only gave up two runs an over,” Chilton said. “We had Stephen Hodgkinson at the other end who bowled a similar economy rate, which meant they really struggled to get any runs.

“It was Neil who took most of the wickets but they both bowled really well, as they have done so far this season.

“The pair of them have not given the pro a look in, which has allowed him to focus on his batting a bit more, which is really where his strengths lie.

“Our pro didn’t have any pressure yesterday and was able to score 75, so it was a convincing win in the end.

“We are second in the table but it’s only bonus points that separate us (from leaders Atherton) so it is very tight, but it’s only early in the season.”

Table-toppers Atherton enjoyed a narrow victory over Little Lever.

David Tantsis-Hall continued his high-scoring campaign with an opening knock of 95 as Atherton racked up a total of 194.

Curtis Anderton (3-98) and Mohammed Khan (5-55) took most of the wickets.

Little Lever made a nightmare start to their innings, going eight down with only 65 runs on the board. Matthew Gallagher starred with the ball for Atherton with his 7-53 including a hat-trick, but a late partnership between Simon Anderton (75) and Stephen Evans (32) threatened to spoil the party as they moved to 178 before the final two wickets tumbled.

Adlington remain third after beating Tonge by 40 runs.

Darryl Hitchen hit an unbeaten 32 for Adlington but the Huyton Road side were dismissed for 112 following good bowling from Cameron Lucas (6-49) and Naseer Ahmed (3-18). Tonge Pro Tilaksha Malshan struck 39 in reply but five of his team-mates fell for ducks and Tonge were seen off for 72. Majid Majeed (6-36) produced an astounding spell that included a hat-trick in a four-wicket over.

Astley Bridge secured a comfortable win at Blackrod. Joe Pryle batted from start to finish for the hosts, scoring 36no, but the brilliant bowling of Yasir Rashid (6-36) saw Blackrod dismissed for 77.

Bridge passed their target inside 18 overs with seven wickets to spare as Soyab Taylor (42) led the response.

Darcy Lever burst into the top half of the table with a convincing win against Little Hulton. Chris Fenn opened with a knock of 44 before Shaukat Patel added 22 as Darcy finished on 185-9.

Fida Hussain (5-74) and Naveed Ullah (3-43) were the pick of the Little Hulton bowlers.

Dominic Gavin (5-40) and Patel (4-26) then impressed with the ball as Little Hulton were dismissed for 67.

Results

Bolton League Premiership Division

Bradshaw 175-5 Horwich 172-9, Bradshaw won by 5 wkts.

Farnworth 216-5 Kearsley 212, Farnworth won by 5 wkts.

Heaton 138 Walkden 161, Walkden won by 23 runs.

Lostock 120-6 Eagley 118, Lostock won by 4 wkts.

Westhoughton 124 Farnworth Social Circle 44, Westhoughton won by 80 runs.

Bolton League Association Division

Adlington 112, Tonge 72. Adlington won by 40 runs.

Atherton 194, Little Lever 178. Atherton won by 16 runs.

Blackrod 77, Astley Bridge 81-3. Astley Bridge won by 7 wkts.

Darcy Lever 185-9, Little Hulton 67. Darcy Lever won by 118 runs.

Golborne 110, Daisy Hill 112-2. Daisy Hill won by 8 wkts.