EAGLEY’s stand-in captain Dave Shuttleworth claims the future is bright after 16-year-old James Richards hit the winning runs as they shocked Kearsley.

The Bolton Premiership’s basement side picked up their second win of the season to seriously dent Kearsley’s title hopes.

Cameron Murray opened the batting for the Springfield Road side with a knock of 36 and professional Devendra Bundela added 52. Sixth-placed batsman Richard Hamblett finished on 40 not out as the hosts posted 162-7.

Craig Massey (63) scored his first ever first-team half-century in reply, and with support from professional Agha Salman they raced to 135-1.

But a dramatic collapse left Eagley needing 12 runs with only two wickets remaining.

And young Richards, in only his second first-team appearance, whacked a huge four to claim a massive scalp and keep their faint survival hopes alive.

“Kearsley were second in the league and we should not have beaten them but great credit to our lads they were excellent,” Shuttleworth said.

“That’s two weeks on the trot now after not winning all season – it’s unbelievable. We are not expected to get any results but these lads have great character and are a pleasure to play with so who knows what can happen.

“It would be unbelievable if we could stay up. The lads have every belief because we are playing without any pressure now.”

Shuttleworth was asked to take temporary charge of the club after former skipper Asif Bhojani moved on to pastures new.

And he has made it look a breeze ever since taking over, leading them to two wins against giants Farnworth Social Circle and Kearsley.

“I might retire now I’ve got a 100-per-cent record since I’ve been back,” Shuttleworth joked. “But seriously, I will be stepping back down to the second team after this season.

“A couple of players have left the club for various reasons recently so I was asked if I would step up and help in the meantime.

“I stepped down originally this season to play second-team cricket. I was captain six or seven years ago but I didn’t want to do it anymore.

“A winning captain is always a happy captain. We have quite a few young players who are really impressing at the minute and the experience heads also held it together at the end.

“In my 26 years at the club I have seen plenty of players come and go but the future is bright here. We have some really good young players. James Richards who hit the winning runs, has only just left school.”

Westhoughton rose to second in the table with a six-wicket win at Heaton. The Lower Pools outfit started well as Matt Fray (44) and Raheel Majeed (29) put on a 58-run opening wicket partnership.

But only Joe Gatenby Brown hit double figures thereafter as Heaton were bowled out for 111. Qaiser Abbas (4-52) and Simon Ashcroft (3-30) did the damage with the ball.

Abbas struck 41 not out and key support came from Jordan Higham as the chase was completed with six wickets to spare.

Elsewhere, Walkden won at home to Bradshaw by 74 runs.

Results

Farnworth Social Circle 92-5, Lostock 88-9. Farnworth Social Circle won by 5 wkts.

Heaton 111, Westhoughton 114-4. Westhoughton won by 6 wkts.

Horwich 139-6, Farnworth 145-6. Farnworth won by 4 wkts.

Kearsley 162-7, Eagley 166-8. Eagley won by 2 wkts.

Walkden 174, Bradshaw 100. Walkden won by 74 runs.

*****

FARNWORTH Social Circle captain Tim Barrow says his side are out of the title race despite rising to third with victory over Lostock.

The Piggott Park outfit bounced back from last weekend’s Hamer Cup final defeat to Westhoughton with a dominating win.

Ryan Ayres took 5-35 runs as the visitors ran up a total of 88-9 in the 30-over match.

Hasnain Abbas hit an unbeaten 20 with the bat, while Richard Dempster and Chris Barrow also took two wickets each. David Tonge’s impressive knock of 41 off 29 balls helped the Piggott Park outfit complete the chase inside 14 overs.

“It was positive to bounce back this week and now we just have to keep up the pressure but Farnworth shouldn’t slip up from here,” said Social Circle skipper Barrow.

“Last Saturday, losing to Eagley, knocked us out of the title race and then the Hamer Cup final defeat was tough but the lads did the club proud.

“Against Lostock it was frustrating with the weather because the longer game suits us in games like this.

“We thought then it was going to be tough but we backed ourselves and did well to limit them to 88.

“We gave away about 15 runs in the field too so we probably should have made the chase a bit lower, but it was pretty straightforward.”

Farnworth’s gap at the top of the table was extended to 20 points after they beat Horwich in a game reduced to 40 overs per side due to rain.

Tom Billington hit an opening knock of 33. Professional Brett Pelser added 24 before Marcus Haydock finished on 30 not out as Horwich posted 139-6.

Kamran Younas was the only bowler of note taking 3-51.

Shaquille Cumberbatch scored 38 as the win was secured with seven balls and four wickets to spare.

Fazil Hassan was the key performer with the ball taking 3-13.