BOLTON cricket's oldest cup competition will see the 2016 winners crowned on Sunday and, fittingly, the league's top two sides are going head-to-head.

Table toppers Farnworth Social Circle are unbeaten in the league in 2016 and seem on course for this year's title. Their nearest challengers Walkden are 14 points behind and appear to be the only side able to prevent a league and cup double.

Victory in Sunday's final, at Astley Bridge CC, would be long overdue for the Farnworth side whose last appearance in the final came in their 1988 victory against Little Lever and captain Matt Parkinson said: "We are looking forward to it this final, it's been a long time since we were in one.

"I'm not surprised Walkden have got to the final too, they're a good side, one that is tough to beat, and we're expecting a difficult game."

Key to Walkden's success this year has been the form with bat in hand of their professional, South African Aiden Markram, who leads the league in runs scored.

And Parkinson, himself a former Walkden player, is only too aware of Markram's potential to ruin their day but if the Social Circle bowlers can remove him cheaply they stand every chance.

"You've got to look at their pro," he said. "We managed to get him out early in the league game (which Social Circle

won by 107 runs) and it made all the difference.

"If you can get Aiden Markram out early it puts the pressure on the rest of them.

"I played for Walkden 10 or maybe 12 years ago, winning this cup, the Lancashire Knockout twice and two league titles so I had a lot of good times and have some close friends from that time. I wish Walkden well, obviously, apart from when I play against them these days.

"Whatever happens we know we need to put on a good show, we have a lot of batting and bowling options – our game plan is to bat well, bowl well and field well, it's a simple as that."

Walkden, who collected a treble of Hamer Cup, league title and Lancashire Knockout in 2008, have a more prize-littered Hamer Cup history with nine wins from 10 final appearances, the last one in 2010.

A spokesman for the league's most successful side said: "It is top versus second so in theory it is the two clubs with the best record so it should be a good final.

"It is a big cup final against an extremely good side so we know it will be difficult but it all depends who performs best on the day.

"Aiden has become an intricate part of our team, our captain Jonathan Fowler has done well this year and we have a good bowling attack so we are hopeful."