Westhoughton returned to the top of the Bolton Cricket League following a nine-wicket win against Astley Bridge. Bridge reached 220-9, with major contributions coming from Shahzad Patel (48) and Shivan Perera (44), writes Ray Taylor.

For Westhoughton, Matty Morris took 4-46 and Agha Salman 3-52. Morris (79) and Kamran Younas who hit 95 from 63 deliveries began with a 170-run partnership, leaving Marlon Welcome-Goodman to finish the job off.

Horwich move into second place, one point behind with a 185-run victory against Blackrod. James Enslin (107) and Tom Billington (80) put on 191 together, and Jack Berry added 74 later in the innings as Horwich totaled 325-6. Charlie Fletcher was the pick of the Blackrod bowlers with 3-67. Asif Bhojani was top scorer with 32 for Blackrod, Berry taking 3-30 and Sam Little 4-65.

Previous leaders Farnworth Social Circle drop to third place, two points adrift of Horwich after losing a close match against Lostock. Akbar ur Rehman and James Evans both scored 63 in Lostock’s 219. Circle slipped to 90-6 until Max Perry (62) and Chris Barrow (43) steered them to 162 before Barrow was dismissed, but they eventually ended eight runs short.

Little Lever raced to 365-9, with opener Nipun Gaikwad slamming 113 from 55 balls, and Josh Gent adding 92 and Nathan Kelly 60. Ayaz Hanif prevented even further damage taking 5-76. Kearsley responded with 216, Cameron Murray making 87 of these and Gaikwad adding to his century with 3-40, and Curtis Anderton taking 3-76.

Alex Rodzoch with 63 and Sam Hardman with 44 assisted Tonge to 227-5. Zain Abbas set Atherton on their way with a half century, then Rhys Webb (62) and Daniel Hughes (48) helped them to a five wicket victory.

Little Hulton’s 93 all out included over 30 extras and a last wicket partnership of 36. Josh Fallows was Eagley’s star performer with the ball taking 7-43. Eagley passed this score for the loss of two wickets, Harvey Seigne 32 and Martin Eccles 30.

There was a century for Farnworth’s professional Milinda Siriwardana in their 274-7, Mustafa Bashir taking 3-71 for Walkden. Adnan Mufti hit 72 for Walkden, Asim Bhatti 42 and Umar Ishaq 40. However at 206-5 they lost four wickets for three runs and ended their innings on 227. Siriwardana finished off a good all round performance with 7-51.

On Sunday, Kearsley and Horwich played their second round Hamer Cup tie that was rained off a fortnight ago. With his 122, Cameron Murray scored almost half of Kearsley’s runs, the innings ending on 245 all out. Jack Berry took 3-48. In the second innings, Kearsley twice pulled themselves into the game, first when two wickets fell with the score on 42, and later in the innings when the fourth wicket was taken when almost one hundred was required. In the end though, Brett Pelser with 76 not out, James Enslin with one run fewer and Josh Little with an unbeaten half century steered Horwich to a six wicket victory.

Next weekend there are league matches both Saturday and Sunday.

n The Bolton League have a new website, which can be found at https://bclcricket.co.uk/ containing information on the League and the individual clubs.