WESTHOUGHTON, Farnworth Social Circle, Eagley and Horwich will do battle for the Bolton League Anthony Axford Indoor Competition title on Sunday.

The annual competition, which started in 1978, is down to the last four from the 16 clubs who entered this year.

Umpires wore black armbands and a minutes’ silence was held before Sunday’s first game in memory of local umpire Clive Knott who died last week.

Mr Knott had umpired in the Bolton League for more than 40 years and had been involved in the indoor tournament since it started in 1978, taking on the role of third umpire checking for no balls in the last couple of years when he was not able to umpire.

Sunday’s quarter-finals got underway with Kearsley batting first against Eagley.

They were all out for 58 in eight overs due to some excellent fielding from Eagley who ran out four batsmen.

Top scorer for Kearsley was Charlie Dorsey with 26.

In reply, Eagley made 59-3 in 10 overs with Will Shuttleworth scoring 25 not out.

The best bowling figures were recorded by Mohammed Jameel with 2-14.

Social Circle easily saw off the challenge of Lostock who were restricted to 68-4 off their 12 overs.

Top scorer was Tom Senior with 14 and the pick of the bowlers was Richard Dempster with 2-20 off his three overs.

Social Circle replied in emphatic style, scoring 69 without losing any wickets. Opening batsmen Jake O’Bryne and Ryan Ayres both scored 28 before having to retire.

In the third game, Farnworth posted 82-3 off their 12 overs with opening batsman Matthew Hicks top scoring with 25no, ably supported by captain Simon Booth with 22no

Kieran Paisley took 1-16 off his allotted overs.

In reply, Westhoughton scored 83-2 with the first four batsmen all reaching double figures.

Top scorer was Matthew Morris with 19, followed by Rob Houghton and Kieran Paisley who both scored 18no.

Nakhas Qamar took 1-4 including a maiden over.

Walkden’s Syed Shah also bowled a maiden in the last match of the day.

His side posted 92 all out with Shah hitting 39 and Taylor Heyes scoring 27.

Dave Morris took 2-17 off 2.3 overs for Horwich who then reached their target in the 11th over with one wicket remaining.

A large total of 33 extras – including 23 wides – played a big part in their final total of 94-5, while Morris scored 31no.

Heyes was the only bowler to take a wicket with the others falling to run outs from some excellent fielding which ultimately was not enough to see Walkden through to this Sunday’s finals day.

Sunday’s fixtures: semi-finals 12.30pm – Westhoughton v Farnworth Social Circle, 1.45pm – Eagley v Horwich; 3pm – final.