HOME comforts proved crucial in the Bolton Association division on Saturday as all five hosts recorded wins.

Astley Bridge rose to the top of the table as they defeated Little Hulton by 50 runs.

The Sharples Park side lost two early wickets for just 18 runs but third-placed batsman Soyab Taylor steadied the ship with a knock of 34.

Syd De Silva (53), Yasir Rashid (54) and Andrew Mills (32) then added high scores to bump the tally up to 239-7 at the end of the 50 overs.

As rain began to fall Little Hulton were set a revised target of 218 and skipper Suleman Muhammad started the chase, hitting 26.

Billy Schofield added 33 in the middle-order before Farrukh Subhani finished with 49 not out as the reduced 40-overs expired on a score of 168-8.

Despite defeat, Little Hulton captain Suleman Muhammad believes his side have enough quality to be competing at the top end of the table come the end of the season.

“The rain interrupted the match which really affected us,” Muhammad said. “The target was reduced by only 19 runs but we lost 10 overs to reply so it was difficult.

“We had a miserable time in the field. We dropped seven or eight catches, including dropping their pro (Syd De Silva) about seven times, seriously, and he went on to get fifty odd.

“It was just one of those days but we still believe we can be up there challenging for the title or at least in the top three.

“We have a top pro (Fida Hussain) who is the top scorer in the league with 250 runs and good bowlers but we are just not supporting them in the field.

“Fielding is something we need to improve on but overall I feel that we have matchwinners in our batting from number one to number 10.

“Our start to the season had been good with the squad we have I do think we’ll be up there.”

Elsewhere, David Tantsis-Hall hit 76 with the bat as Atherton beat Daisy Hill.

Stephen Hodgkinson bowled 4-38 as the Higham Park side were dismissed for 162.

Sam Pendlebury was the pick of the batsmen in reply striking 25 but Daisy Hill were bowled out 52 runs short of the target.

Muhammad Baig starred with the ball taking 5-51.

Blackrod picked up their first win of the season with a six-wicket victory at home to Golborne.

The visitors opened the batting with Chinthaka Mahadurage, who hit 55.

However, a middle-order collapse meant skipper Tom Pantak, batting in eighth, was the only other batter of note scoring 29no as Golborne were restricted to 161-7 in a rain-reduced 41-overs.

The Vicarage Road side replied with Joseph Pryle scoring 46 and Thushendra De Zoysa hitting 51 as a revised target of 161 was achieved with only four wickets down.

Adlington are up to third in the table after beating Darcy Lever.

The Huyton Road side bowled out their visitors for 106 before reaching a revised target of 87 with six wickets to spare inside 19 overs.

Results

Adlington 87-4, Darcy Lever 106. Adlington won by 6 wkts.

Astley Bridge 239-7, Little Hulton 168-8. Astley Bridge won by 50 runs.

Atherton 162, Daisy Hill 110. Atherton won by 52 runs.

Blackrod 162-4, Golborne 161-7. Blackrod won by 6 wkts.

Tonge 60-8, Little Lever 73. Tonge won on run rate.