FARNWORTH and Westhoughton will battle it out for the chance to play in a county cup final at Old Trafford.

The pair are the last two Bolton League sides remaining in the last 16 of the Lancashire Knockout after beating Greater Manchester League Premier Division opponents to win through on Sunday.

And they are drawn against each other, guaranteeing one local club will move to within two wins from the final at Lancashire's ground.

Farnworth cruised past former Bolton Association side Flixton to progress to the next round while Westhoughton edged a close game against Denton St Lawrence.

It was very nearly three League clubs in the next round as Bradshaw took holders Bootle to the wire in a thrilling clash.

Victor Walcott (3-15) starred with the ball as Flixton were bowled out for 112 in a 28-over rain-reduced game – Adil Baig top scoring with 57.

The Lavender Road side were set a reduced target of 41 from 10 overs and Adil Nisar led the way to victory with the bat scoring 17.

Despite disruption by the rain, Farnworth skipper Simon Booth reserved praise Flixton while outlining his delight at getting one step closer to another major final.

He said: “Credit to Flixton, if they really wanted to they could have dragged their feet and slowed everything down and possibly taken the game to a bowl out.

“But they didn't and the lads were an absolute credit to their club. They are an honest bunch and played the game to try to complete it, not spoil it.

“We were very good and Victor Walcott bowled so well, he was our best bowler on the day.

“It is good to see two Bolton League teams in the last 16 and it just shows that cricket in this league is still going strong.

“We won the Lancashire Knockout in 2010 but it was at St Annes because of the repair work at Old Trafford.

“Old Trafford is the holy grail of amateur cricket and we are really desperate to get there having missed out last time.”

Simon Ashcroft was the hero for Westhoughton.

Following a poor start, the Howfeners were struggling with a score of 36-4 but professional Qaisar Abbas steadied the ship with a crucial knock of 66.

Mike King (40 not out) and Jordan Higham (25 not out) produced a budding partnership in the middle order to bump the score up to 174-5 as the overs expired.

Denton flew out of the traps and sat comfortably in control of the tie with their reply at 118-5, chasing a revised target of 138.

Abbas (3-24) and Kieran Edwards (2-36) began to turn the screw and with three overs remaining the Greater Manchester side needed 13 runs with four wickets to spare.

But up stepped Ashcroft who was handed a singular over at the death and he took two crucial wickets for the return of three runs to help bowl the visitors out seven runs short of the target.

Stuart Hornby top scored for Bradshaw with 74 as the Rigbys outfit posted an excellent total of 227-5 at Bootle.

Shahzaib Khan (2-34) and Steve Foster (2-20) starred with the ball but Bootle recorded victory in the penultimate over.

Liam Watkinson scored 43 for Edgworth as they posted opponents Bury a target of 136-4.

After rain reduced Bury's target they knocked 58-2 to wrap up an eight-wicket win.

Egerton were knocked out following a 2-0 bowl-out defeat to Lowerhouse.

Lancs KO results

Bootle 228-6, Bradshaw 227-5. Bootle won by 4 wkts.

Bury 58-2, Edgworth 136-4. Bury won by 8 wkts, revised target.

Egerton v Lowerhouse. Lowerhouse won 2-0 by bowl-out.

Farnworth 54-3, Flixton 112. Farnworth won by 7 wkts.

Westhoughton 174-5, Denton St Lawrence 131. Westhoughton won by 7 runs, revised target.