EGERTON returned to the summit of the Bolton League on Saturday as they recorded a narrow victory at home to Eagley.

With all of the other title contenders having their games rained off it gave Egerton the perfect chance to join Greenmount at the top of the pile.

But skipper Danny Counsell did his best to upset their plans as he hit 54 not out for Eagley, who ran up a score of 101-5 in the reduced 25-over game.

Scott Martin (3-31) and Adam Street (2-47) did their best to give Egerton a manageable total to aim for.

Awais Zia again had other ideas, taking 4-41 as the hosts stumbled over their reply but Marcus Pratt (19) showed the way with the bat to secure the win with two wickets to spare.

Counsell was not too disheartened by their third defeat in a row, instead pointing out that it all makes for an interesting final run-in.

“It is a good league the Bolton League and this is a very good season," he said. "I reckon it is the most interesting season in years.

“Anybody is beatable in this league – there is no easy game.

"We are never going to win the league so as long as we don't finish bottom I will be happy."

Little Lever against Horwich was the only other game in the league to survive Saturday's downpour.

Jon Kerrigan – who returned to captain the Victory Road side only a week ago – is showing glimpses of the leadership that helped them to title glory in 2013.

Victory at Horwich on Saturday made it back-to-back wins following an eight-game winless streak.

Professional Zain Abbas led the way with the bat, hitting 78 not out and Adam Carter added 37 as Little Lever posted 165-4.

Horwich captain David Morris scored 41 not out in reply and Matthew Morris chipped in with 30. However, Abbas produced figures of 6-48 to leave Morris' men 37 runs short of their target.

Results

Egerton 102-8, Eagley 101-5. Egerton won by two wkts.

Horwich 128-8, Little Lever 165-4. Little Lever won by 37 runs.