EGERTON skipper Will Halton believes the double addition of Adam Street and Marcus Pratt from Horwich can help his side challenge at the top of the Bolton League this season.

The Blackburn Road club sit top of the league by a point from Westhoughton after an unbeaten start to the campaign in the first four games.

Their latest triumph against Bradshaw last weekend saw Street shine with the ball, taking 6-68 from 20 overs and Pratt hit 43 as Egerton registered a seven-wicket victory.

And Halton has been pleased with how quickly the new arrivals have settled in.

He said: "They have come in and settled really well – both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

"Adam is one of the best seam bowlers in the league and he is showing that for us.

"That is something we were lacking really – we needed that firepower up first with the ball and someone like Adam.

"Marcus has also been a good addition. He is probably getting a bit more of a chance with us and that will help him I think."

Last week's triumph was also helped by deputy pro Haseeb Hameed, who stepped in to hit 86.

His performance was no surprise to Halton who believes the former Bolton School youngster is destined for the top with Lancashire and possibly England too after his recent successful tour of Australia with the Under-19s national side.

Halton said: "It was an outstanding knock and just what you want when you bring a deputy pro in.

"Everyone knows Haseeb's quality around these parts.

"He is immensely talented and dedicated and I will be surprised if he doesn't make it all the way to a high level."

Halton hopes new professional Mahela Udawatte, from Sri Lanka, will be back available tomorrow for the trip to Eagley.

The skipper says the team are confident going into the game and he is targeting a victory that would keep them top ahead of a tough run of fixtures, starting against second-placed Westhoughton in eight days' time.

He added: "We go to Eagley in a positive frame of mind after the start we have had.

"We know it can be tricky because this league has shown in recent seasons that anyone can beat anyone.

"But we have a tough run of fixtures coming up and it would be the perfect boost to go into next week's game against Westhoughton still above them in the table."

Fixtures

Saturday

Eagley v Egerton, Bradshaw v Farnworth, Astley Bridge v Farnworth SC, Walkden v Greenmount, Tonge v Heaton, Little Lever v Horwich, Kearsley v Westhoughton.

Sunday

National Knockout: Bradshaw v Fulwood and Broughton, Prestwich v Westhoughton.