INDOOR cricket aces Egerton could yet set up a county showdown with new Bolton League champions Farnworth Social Circle.

Egerton were unable to defend the crown they had won five years on the bounce after moving to the new Greater Manchester Cricket League at the end of the summer.

The GMCL has not had time to organise an indoor competition of their own over the winter, but Egerton captain Will Halton confirmed the it would now be holding a tournament later this year.

Halton said: “With the GMCL only due to start officially in April, there was not enough time to properly organise an indoor tournament, which are normally held during the winter.

“But I understand they will be tagging it on to the end of the summer, so it should take place in September or October.”

Egerton progressed to this year's Lancashire finals as 2015 Bolton League champions and won their fourth county title.

The side, which this year included Halton as captain, wicketkeeper Danny Partington, Paul Stafford, Anthony Clegg, Marcus Pratt and Adam Street, has built up a wealth of experience over the years, also adding two regional titles.

But they have never quite managed their ultimate goal – to be crowned northern champions and make it to the national finals at Lords.

Egerton fell just short again this year, knocked out of the competition in the regional finals at Headingley, losing to Sheffield side Whitley Hall by eight runs.

“It’s great that the GMCL are holding a competition as we want to keep trying to get to Lord’s,” Halton added.

“I don’t know what the level of competition will be like in the GMCL, but hopefully we can make next year’s county finals again and maybe meet Social Circle at Old Trafford.”

The indoor game is played in sports halls, with six players per team and 12 overs per innings.

Batsmen, who must retire at 25 runs but can come back in at the end of the innings, accumulate runs by hitting the walls – fours and sixes for hitting the back wall, one for the side walls – and score two for running between the wickets.

No player is allowed to bowl more than three overs.

Halton added: “I would say the secret of our success has been keeping a consistent team.

“We have always had a tight unit of players who understand and enjoy the format and have obviously gained more and more experience over the years.

“Not many boundaries are scored, the key is to find the spaces in the field and eke out the runs that way.

“Every sports hall is slightly different, so knowledge of the venue is also very important.

“That’s where we came a cropper in the regional finals.

“It was a really close game but Whitley Hall had played at Headingley before and knew where to place the ball to keep the runs ticking over.”

Egerton won the toss and put Whitley Hall into bat. They made 111-3 from their 12 overs while Egerton ended up on 103-5, with Partington not out on 35.