FARNWORTH Social Circle’s Bolton League title charge was halted when town rivals Farnworth slipped to home defeat to Bradshaw on Sunday.

The league leaders backed up Saturday’s victory at Heaton with a nine-wicket home win against Astley Bridge on Sunday.

But they needed a favour from Farnworth to secure a first league crown in five years and the Lavender Road men were beaten by Bradshaw.

Things looked good for Farnworth when Chris Baxendale carried his bat to a score of 81 not out to help the hosts to 171; Mohamed Jameel (3-48) and pro Saeed Anwar Jnr (3-32) the pick of the Bradshaw bowling attack.

But the visitors were helped by a seventh-wicket partnership of 80 that saw them through to 172-6 with Nick Lester unbeaten on 55 and Jameel 25no.

That meant the champagne was put on ice down the road at Piggott Park where Social Circle had comfortably beaten Astley Bridge.

The visitors were restricted to 101-9 thanks to Liam Bones’ 5-50 and Chris Barrow (3-40) And the winning target was achieved in just 23.2 overs, David Tonge top scoring with an unbeaten 48.

Elsewhere, Westhoughton’s miserable weekend continued with a 31-run home defeat to Kearsley on Sunday.

The Howfeners had gone into the weekend in second spot but back-to-back losses have put paid to any slim title hopes.

Westhoughton pro Qaiser Abbas took 4-84 but Kearsley made 212-7 thanks to a third-wicket stand of 88 from Siraj Patel (75) and Chesney Hughes (49).

Abbas showed he was just as good with the bat with a knock of 43 in the reply but Kearsley bowler Sabah Ghaus took 6-71 as Westhoughton were bowled out for 181.

Thwaites Hamer Cup winners Heaton picked up a victory by six wickets at home to Tonge.

The visitors made 134 with Gulam Abbas (50) hitting a half century and Iain McLellan weighing in with 33no.

Imran Mirza (5-38) enjoyed a fifer while Danny Reeve took 4-47 for Heaton.

The reply saw Mirza score 39no while pro Humayan Farhat top scored with 58 as Heaton reached 135-4.

Little Lever won at Horwich after winning the toss and posting a total of 160-8 thanks to Kamran Younis (50) and Josh Gent (26).

Horwich pro Babar Naeem took 5-64 and Marcus Pratt chipped in with 3-36 to restrict Little Lever.

Tom Billington, batting at five, top scored in the reply with 35 but Younis (6-34) and Rakeb Mahmood (4-93) did damage with the ball to bowl the hosts out for 134 to record a 26-run triumph.

Egerton welcomed Eagley and won by 69 runs after posting 200-9.

Danny Partington hit 64, while Stuart Hornby (34) was also in the runs.

In reply, Eagley were bowled out for 131 with Will Halton (6-53) and Amal Dalugoda (4-53) to wicket takers.

In the final game on Sunday, Greenmount slipped to a four-wicket home defeat to Walkden.

The hosts posted a meagre 88 with Phil Heaton’s unbeaten 27 the highest score.

Ryan Ayres (4-17) and Iqbal Patel (5-30) were the pick of the Walkden bowlers.

Rafal Afridi top scored with 57no as the visitors reached 92-6 to clinch victory.

 

Sunday results

Egerton 200-9 Eagley 131. Egerton won by 69 runs.

Farnworth 171 Bradshaw 172-6. Bradshaw won by 4 wkts.

Farnworth SC 107-1 Astley Bridge 101-9. Farnworth SC won by 9 wkts.

Greenmount 88 Walkden 92-6. Walkden won by 4 wkts.

Heaton 135-4 Tonge 134. Heaton won by 6 wkts.

Horwich 134 Little Lever 160-8. Little Lever won by 26 runs.

Westhoughton 181 Kearsley 212-7. Kearsley won by 31 runs.