ADLINGTON pulled off a dramatic last-ball victory in a thriller with Eagley which could have gone either way throughout.

With both sides having the initiative only to see it snatched away on numerous occasions, it all came down to the final ball of the match with Eagley needing one to tie.

Eagley looked set to maintain their impressive start to the season when they had the visitors at 55-5 and 86-6.

But Iain Critchley (75) and Sajid Khan (63 not out) came together and staged a 111-run partnership to steer their side to a final 213-7.

Pro Agha Salman took 3-93 and Hasib Patel 3-20 for Eagley who were on the back foot in their reply at 37-3.

Then Asif Bhojani and Will Shuttleworth hit 65 and 62 respectively, including a partnership of 99, to give Eagley a chance of victory at the death. But Adlington had the last word by taking the last wicket with the final ball of a classic game.

Horwich captain David Morris believes his team will find out where they are in their development next Saturday when they host Walkden.

Horwich eased to a 76-run victory at Atherton on Saturday with pro Brett Pelser scoring a half century and taking 7-24 off 10 overs.

Morris added 27 while Amar Ullah took 5-45 for Atherton who, chasing a revised target of 160, collapsed after being on 37-0 after 11 overs, Ullah finishing on 25 not out.

Horwich, who have a balanced side of half a team of teenagers and half experienced players, including eight who have come through the juniors, are some peoples' outsiders for the title.

Morris is not so sure about that but is certainly pleased with the professional's input on and off the field.

"He's delivered, absolutely," he said. “And he’s working very hard off the field with the coaching element to bring through the young lads.

“He’s a top pro and as soon as he became available there was only one man for us.

“He got 50-odd and seven wickets and we batted around him and didn’t give anything loose to hit. When they batted we knew if we got the initial breakthrough we would be in the game.

“It was a good win but we’ve been a bit stop-start so far this season and are yet to fire but we’re doing all right.

“The target was top four, top six and we’re on course but we have a big test at the weekend with Walkden who have some new players and are looking a good team.”

Walkden sent out a message to the title-chasers by beating one of the pre-season favourites, Bradshaw, convincingly at home.

The Harriett Street men have bolstered their side with some quality over the winter and were simply too strong for the visitors who fell 85 runs short of the winning target.

Pro Aiden Markram top scored with 66, Steve Foster taking 5-47.

Bradshaw started badly and looked out for the count at 28-5 before recovering to 121-6, captain Nick Lester scoring 61 including 10 fours.

Tahir Maqsood took 5-37 and Sayed Shah 3-44 for Walkden.

Nick Fawcett rolled back the years with 101 not out to steer Darcy Lever to victory at Golborne.

The veteran was in imperious form and his captain believes Fawcett is in the mood to have a big season.

“He’s a class act,” said Jimmy Walsh-Hill. “He’s been one of the best cricketers in Bolton for the last 15 to 20 years and still is.

“He’s getting older now and his body is catching up with him but he looks very determined to have a good season.

“He’s a good bowler too but I won’t be asking him to do much bowling because I want him to do a job for me batting.

“I asked him to bat his overs and he did and he cruised through.”

Walsh-Hill was delighted with the all-round display which saw Darcy post 212-3 in a 63-run victory.

“It was a good team performance,” he said. “There were a lot of high teens and 20s scored and players chipped in with the ball and in the field.

“Dominic Gavin (5-51) is in great form, he’s taken 13 wickets in three games. He bowled 22 overs which is a lot but no way was I taking him off.

“He’s got a smooth action and such good mechanics when he bowls that he can bowl so many overs without it really being a problem. He’s also an absolute stalwart of the club.

“Scott Burns (3-69) did a very good job for us as well.”

Jake Waterworth was Golborne’s top performer, continuing his impressive development of the last couple of years with 51.

Three of the title favourites, Farnworth, Farnworth Social Circle and Westhoughton all won at a canter.

Farnworth had a speedy nine-wicket victory at Tonge while their neighbours, Social Circle, won by 163 runs at home to Daisy Hill.

Australian overseas Jake Scicluna scored 92 and Dave Tonge 69 as Social Circle posted 304-7 before Daisy pro Adnan Raees top scored with 54 in his side’s reply which began with them reaching 55 for no loss after eight overs.

Ryan Ayres then ripped through the Daisy bowlers with 6-42 and David Mather took 3-58.

Westhoughton had a similarly one-sided afternoon at home to Lostock who found themselves on the wrong end of a 146-run defeat.

Openers Rob Houghton (35) and Danny Naylor (52) put on 98 for the first wicket and pro Qaiser Abbas and Oliver Newby were both in the 40s before both taking three wickets as Lostock were all out for 99.

Heaton captain Gary Garner gave the praise for Saturday’s 196-run home victory over Little Hulton to the team, not just pro Humayan Farhat who scored a stunning 140.

The home side amassed 323-8 but credit went to Farhat’s team-mates who helped him to his huge score.

“The pro was just class,” said Garner. “He only came in at five and the other lads batted around him well and we chipped in at the end.

“It was a good, balanced display.

“We batted very well. People will look at the score and think Little Hulton didn’t bowl well but they did bowl quite well, we just batted very well.”

Declan Dudley scored 47 and Garner added 31 not out after coming in number nine.

Farhat completed a superb all-round performance with 3-16 from 5.4 overs and Ahmed Matloob took 3-34. It was also a special day for Kishan Patel who took 3-2 off five overs – his first senior wickets.

Little Hulton’s Imran Butt scored 37.

Charlie Dorsey played a big part in Kearsley’s 65-run victory at Blackrod.

With his side unconvincing at 72-5 he steadied the ship with 51 to help them to 168-9, Tush de Zoysa taking 3-27 and debutant Will Powell 3-31 for the home side.

Chasing a revised 154 after losing seven overs to rain, Blackrod never got going, due largely to Mohammed Jameel who took 7-32.

Yasir Rashid stunned Standish with 7-32 as Astley Bridge won by 201 runs at home.

Rick Northrop scored 78, Hashim Akhtar 64 and Simon Entwistle 35 and Rakeb Mahmood took 3-41 for Bridge.

Saturday's results

Atherton 95, Horwich 171. Horwich won by 76 runs.

Astley Bridge 275-9, Standish 74. Astley Bridge won by 201 runs.

Blackrod 89, 168-9. Kearsley won by 79 runs.

Eagley 212, Adlington 213-7. Adlington won by 1 run.

Farnworth SC 304-7, Daisy Hill 141. Farnworth SC won by 163 runs.

Golborne 149, Darcy Lever 212-3. Darcy Lever won by 63 runs.

Heaton 323-8, Little Hulton 127. Heaton won by 196 runs.

Tonge 79-9, Farnworth 80-1. Farnworth won by 9 wkt

Walkden 222, Bradshaw 138. Walkden won by 84 runs.

Westhoughton 245-7, Lostock 99. Westhoughton won by 146 runs.