ADAM Carter starred with the bat for Little Lever as their season revival begins to pick up pace.

After securing their first win of the season the previous weekend, the Victory Road side cruised to a resounding 102-run victory against high-flying Heaton.

When opener Anthony Hilton was bowled for a duck it looked like Little Lever's bad luck had struck again.

But fellow opener Carter steadied the ship with a knock of 95 while partnering professional Zafar Gohar (20) at the crease.

Skipper Jon Kerrigan chipped in with 35 to help the hosts post a total of 185-6. Haroon Farhat was the most notable bowler with figures of 3-48.

In reply, professional Gohar gleaned a five-wicket haul for 32 runs and Andrew Worden, who bowled for the first time this season, took 3-28 as Heaton were bowled out for 82. Yousaf Anwar top scored with 18.

Aiden Markram led Walkden to victory with both bat and ball as they brushed aside Blackrod.

Professional Markram knocked 108 with the bat – which included 12 boundaries – and was helped by Aman Arora who hit 51 as the Oval outfit posted a total of 195-7 in their 37-over rain-reduced game.

Thushendra De Zoysa was the only bowler of note taking 3-92, before turning his hand to the bat and striking 33.

Daniel Robinson added 23 to the reply but the tight Walkden bowling attack, which was led by Markram (4-50), had Blackrod dismissed for 126.

Sayed Shah (2-2) and Tahir Maqsood (2-46) also impressed with the ball, taking two wickets apiece.

Adlington secured a seven-wicket victory against Standish in a 41-over rain-reduced match.

Opener Rob Cobley (31), Stephen Wright (26) and Zulqanain Khan (19) were the only batsmen to achieve double figures as Standish were bowled out for 107.

Majid Majeed starred with the ball, taking three wickets in seven overs for the return of only eight runs. Zaraq Nazir also bowled well taking 3-48 while Ben King took 3-22.

Rain interrupted the Huyton Road side's reply and they were set a reduced target of 100 from 37 overs.

Opening duo Mark Halliwell (25) and Simon Trim (29) set their side on the front foot as they built a decent partnership.

But it was the pair of Majeed (15 not out) and Iain Critchley (16no) who saw Adlington over the line with seven wickets to spare.

Chris Gunn was the only bowler of note, taking 2-22, while skipper Pankaj Tripathi made two catches.

Horwich secured a seven-wicket win against Golborne to ensure they remain in third place.

Jake Waterworth top scored for Golborne with 28 before wicketkeeper Chris Vasey added 23.

Superb bowling from Liam Bones (6-41) and deputy professional Nekoli Parris (3-36) had the visitors bowled out for 131.

Opener Phil Ingram scored 37 and Parris hit 27 as Horwich began to take the game to their opponents.

Joe Baldwin knocked 40no in the middle order as the Recreation Ground side saw off the target for the loss of three wickets.

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WESTHOUGHTON skipper Rob Houghton is looking to go the rest of the season unbeaten after his side recorded their first league win in more than a month.

The Howfeners, who were tipped as one of the early front-runners for the title, were slipping dangerously towards the bottom half of the table.

But professional Qaisar Abbas (4-24) and fellow bowler Dan Higham (5-17) set about resurrecting their season with fine bowling performances that had opponents Astley Bridge dismissed for 63. Soyab Taylor top scored with 14.

Openers Rob Houghton (eight not out) and Danny Naylor (49no) saw off the target with every wicket still in tact.

The emphatic 10-wicket victory was long overdue, and skipper Houghton revealed his side have had deep conversations regarding recent performances.

“It has been hard luck,” he said. “We have not been playing our greatest brand of cricket and we have not been at the races at all.

“As you can imagine the lads have had lots of chats about responding and we did that on Saturday.

“A lot of effort and hard work went into getting the game on from everybody associated with the club and we would like to think we repaid their hard work and pleased them with our performance.”

Westhoughton moved up the seventh place in a tightly-packed mid-table, and Houghton says the only way is up for his side here on in.

He added: “Hopefully this win will now start us off and push us up the league table. We aim to go unbeaten for as long as we can now but we will take it one game at a time.

“We have Heaton away next who were third going into this weekend so we know it will be a tough game and we are going to have to be at the races.

“I would like to think that we can win every game for the remainder of the season.

“Our aim now is to finish as high as we possibly can and see if any of the top teams slip up. If they do we need to make sure we are playing well enough to take full advantage."

Elsewhere, Atherton picked up their second win of the season with a surprise victory against Eagley.

Brenton Parchment bowled a six-wicket haul for only 21 runs as Eagley were bowled out for 119.

Paul Rayment scored 22 and Will Shuttleworth hit 41 but they failed to deal with the bowling prowess of Parchment.

Josh Gilluley (32) and Jack Shovelton (22no) spearheaded the reply as the target was seen off with three wickets to spare. Agar Salman did the most damage with the ball, taking 3-61.

Lostock recorded a routine victory against the league's basement side Tonge.

Tom Sheen (5-13) and David Flanagan (3-27) led the bowling attack as Tonge were bowled out for 62.

Lostock reached the target with eight wickets remaining.

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KEARSLEY's new professional Faisal Iqbal has touched down in Bolton with a bang.

The new signing knocked 70 on debut and Darren Whittle hit 76 as the Springfield Road side posted 229-9 during their victory against Little Hulton.

But the new arrival played second-fiddle with the ball to one of Kearsley's amateur cricketers.

Faisal Zeeshan Hussain bowled a nine-wicket haul for only 42 runs as Little Hulton were bowled out for 84.

Iqbal did get in on the action with the ball taking a single wicket and stopping teammate Hussain from bowling a clean sweep.

Kearsley have had sub-professionals all season so far after complications with a previous signing, as vice-captain Whittle explains.

He said: “Last year's pro Saeed Anwar was signed up as our professional before the season started but he was playing in Bangladesh on big money instead of coming over so he was sacked.

“We signed Faisal Iqbal, who's an ex-Test cricketer for Pakistan, a couple of weeks ago but it has taken a while to get his visa papers sorted and everything.

“The pro has come in and has been a big help. Just having him around you can tell his class.”

Meanwhile, Farnworth's title-bid is no longer in their own hands after their clash with Daisy Hill was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Both sets of players spent hours mopping up water from the ground but eventually the umpires decided the pitch was still not fit for play to start.

Each side was awarded two points, which keeps Farnworth in second place in the league table.

The Lavender Road side sit nine points behind Farnworth Social Circle, who had the weekend off, and even if they were to beat the league leaders when they clash later on in the season, it would not guarantee top spot.

Bradshaw's clash against Darcy Lever also fell foul of the weather with no action taking place.

Saturday's results

Adlington 100-3 Standish 107, Adlington won by 7 wkts (revised target).

Atherton 124-7 Eagley 119, Atherton won by 3 wkts.

Bradshaw v Darcy Lever, match abandoned.

Daisy Hill v Farnworth, match abandoned.

Horwich 132-3 Golborne 131, Horwich won by 7 wkts.

Kearsley 229-9 Little Hulton 84, Kearsley won by 145 runs.

Little Lever 184-6 Heaton 82, Little Lever won by 102 runs.

Lostock 63-2 Tonge 62, Lostock won by 8 wkts.

Walkden 195-7 Blackrod 126, Walkden won by 69 runs.

Westhoughton 64-0 Astley Bridge 63, Westhoughton won by 10 wkts.