FARNWORTH, Eagley, Kearsley and Walkden went through to the quarter-finals of the Anthony Axford Indoor Cricket Competition on Sunday.

They knocked out out Heaton, Bradshaw, Darcy Lever and Little Hulton, respectively, on the opening day of the annual Bolton Cricket League competition at Bolton School sports hall.

Farnworth and Heaton kicked off the action with the latter batting first. The young side were bowled out for 75 with Joe Brown and Lee Halliwell each scoring 18.

The pick of the Farnworth bowlers were Matthew Hicks, with 2-11 off 2.3 overs, and Lee Bridge, with 2-18 off the maximum three overs.

Farnworth got off to a steady start in reply before losing four wickets for just four runs, Joe Ducker taking two of them from three balls.

Nakhas Qumar batted the last five overs on his own to reach the required total. Extras were top scorer as Farnworth won with two overs to spare.

In the second game a young Eagley scored by placing the ball as they posted a fine 128-4.

Joseph Baldwin scored an impressive 42 not out, ably supported by 37no from Will Shuttleworth.

Bradshaw replied with 92-4 off their 12 overs due to some tight bowling. Top scorers were Tom Liversedge (27no) and Nick Lester with 20 while all four Eagley bowlers took one wicket for less than 25 runs.

Kearsley got off to a fine start against Darcy Lever with Darren Whittle and Rick Hamblett both scoring 25 before having to retire.

The first wicket fell at 78 and Kearsley went on to score 123-4 with Hamblett coming back to finish with 40no. Darcy’s Toseef Hanif took 1-18 off his three overs.

In reply, Darcy Lever were 28-2 before Dominic Gavin and Jimmy Walsh-Hill put on 56 for the third partnership.

Two run outs put paid to Darcy’s hopes of victory as they finished on 100, Dave Mather taking 2-34 for Kearsley.

The final game of the day between Little Hulton and Walkden was low scoring with Little Hulton restricted to 64 by some excellent bowling.

The top scorer was captain Adam Newton with 22 while Ben Smith took 1-11 off his three overs and Abid Raiax only conceded three runs from his two overs.

Little Hulton made Walkden work hard for their win which was clinched off the first ball of the last over. Taylor Heyes scored 27no while Sajawal Khan took 1-16 off his three overs.

The competition continues on Sunday with the schedule as follows:

12.30pm – Westhoughton v Blackrod, 1.45pm – Lostock v Daisy Hill, 3pm – Atherton v Farnworth Social Circle and 4.15pm – Horwich v Tonge.