AFTER losing the first two inter-league matches to Bolton, the Bury Intermediates turned the tide at Walkden CC on Friday and won by an innings (138-131).

Bolton lost Zoe Johnston, caught out, and Jessica Smith at first base on the first round, then Paige Taylor and Jess Baldwin were dismissed second time round.

The remaining batters settled as Jenny Fairclough and Levi Marsden both scored rounders from their second bat.

Fairclough added a three and a two before being caught out for a total of 13.

Gemma Taylor reached 12 before being caught out and Marsden went on to be top scorer with 20 as one of the last pair with Melissa Dargan who reached 11 before being denned for a team total of 83.

Bury made a steady start with all the batters scoring ones on the first round, except Harriett Howard who scored two. Although the home side dismissed two batters on the second round, the visitors upped the pace with Claire Dorey scoring the first of her four rounders which took her to 38 and top scorer.

Deanna McDougall was eventually caught out for 26 as she finished with six consecutive singles, a rounder and a two while last batter Jo Rector played a remarkable innings of 18 which comprised two twos and the rest in singles.

Dargan was replaced by Nicola Mitchell-Yorke for the second innings in which Bolton lost three batters at the first attempt. Johnston scored a rounder second time round, but the visitors tightened their grip on the game and denned the last two batters, Taylor and Marsden for nine and seven respectively, taking the Bolton total to 48 for the innings and 131 for the match.

The senior teams meet at Darcy Lever Cricket Club on Friday and the over-60s sides play at the same venue on Sunday, June 21, from 11am.

The league programme was hit by heavy rain last Monday but only two games have had to be rearranged, although a few match cards showed signs of water damage and carried comments about unpleasant conditions.

Little Lever Cricket Club declared their innings at Chorley because they were not prepared to continue in what they considered dangerous conditions.

The League committee has expelled a team this week for playing an unregistered player under a false name.

When challenged during the game they admitted she was ineligible but allowed her to continue playing then tried to justify their actions.

It is not the first time a team has been expelled for breaking the rules but hopefully it will be the last.

Sadly, the errant team is not the only one affected as it means the other teams in the section will now be playing fewer matches.