After Saturday’s programme, the Bolton Cricket League splits into two with Westhoughton, Horwich and Farnworth Social Circle on 70, 68 and 60 points respectively already assured of a place in the top six.

Farnworth, Astley Bridge, Little Lever, Blackrod and Lostock are competing for the other three places.

A 136-run partnership between Ross Sutton (70) and Milinda Siriwardana (71), was followed by one of 99 between Simon Booth (62) and James Fox as Farnworth ending their innings on 275-5 against Kearsley on Saturday.

Kearsley began well in reply, reaching 71-1, but with Matthew Hicks taking 5-42 they were dismissed for 155.

James Evans hit 72 and James McLaughlin 62 not out in Lostock’s 194-8 against Westhoughton, Kamran Younas taking 3-45.

Westhoughton lost a wicket with two runs on the board, but then Marlon Welcome-Goodman with a century and Matthew Morris (82) steered them to victory without any further mishaps.

James Enslin struck 132 in Horwich’s 292-8, including a 98-run partnership with Brett Pelser.

Nipun Gaikwad took 4-76 for Little Lever, then followed this up with an innings of 145 out of 206.

The Lever innings would have ended much sooner than it did but for a last-wicket partnership of 71 between Gaikwad and Josh Hill.

Jack Berry was Horwich’s most successful bowler with figures of 4-59.

Elliot Coleclough was another centurion, with 127 for Farnworth Social Circle.

Max Perry added a half-century and the innings closed on 306-6.

Nazim Patel scored 46 out of Little Hulton’s 136 with Ryan Ayres taking 6-54.

Atherton recovered from 33-5 to reach 154, thanks mainly to 48 from Leighton Smith and 47 from Rhys Webb. Junaid Farooq had 4-30 for Walkden.

Adnan Mufti’s undefeated 62 then steered Walkden to a five-wicket victory.

A century partnership between Lesiba Ngoepe (61) and Rick Northrop (52) helped Astley Bridge to 196, with Harvey Seigne recording figures of 5-39, and Josh Fallows 3-53 for Eagley.

At 83-2, Eagley appeared well placed, but Ngoepe took 4-57 and Haaris Akhtar 3-32 to give Bridge a 26-run victory.

Blackrod’s 190-9 was based around 64 runs for Ankit Lamba, Naseer Ahmed taking 3-26 for Tonge, and Connor Lord 3-66.

Chetan Bisht made 71 for Tonge, who were heading for victory until the last four wickets fell for six runs, leaving then still five runs adrift. Lamba had 4-33 for Blackrod and Matthew Ready 3-52.

On Sunday, in the Lancs Knockout, a century partnership between Morris and Younas was not enough as Westhoughton finished more than 50 runs short of Northern’s 282-6.

Northern are joined by fellow Liverpool Competition sides Ormskirk and Leigh along with Longridge from the Northern League in the semi-finals.