Salesbury sit atop of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Premiership table after winning for the third time in three matches on Saturday, brushing Lostock aside by 121 runs.

A remarkable day of action - round three of the season - saw champions Little Lever lose by 11 runs at Blackrod, despite bowling their hosts out for just 64 batting first. Blackrod, like Salesbury, have also won three from three.

Tonge also claimed a Premiership win at home to Ribblesdale Wanderers defending just 99.

There was a similar match in the Championship as Oswaldtwistle Immanuel defended a 72 target at home to Whalley, who were bowled out for 43 to lose by 28.

Read lead that division with three wins from three. They beat Cherry Tree at home.

Callum Boardman was Salesbury’s hero with a stunning new ball 8-22 from 11 overs as Lostock chasing 220, were bowled out for only 98. Earlier, Lewis Pearson top-scored with three sixes in a middle-order 81 as Salesbury posted 219-9.

They now have the perfect record of 36 points from three games, two points clear of Blackrod, who shocked Little Lever.

Nipun Gaikwad’s 6-19 bowled Blackrod out for 64, with home Sri Lankan professional Navod Paranavithana top-scoring with 29. Amazingly, though, it was the highest individual score of the match as Little Lever’s chase was wrecked by Matthew Readey’s fabulous 7-26 from eight overs with the new ball.

They were bowled out for 53 in a match which saw eight ducks.

Tonge were bowled out for 98 by Salesbury, for whom father and son Ian and Jordan (5-44) Britcliffe shared nine wickets. Hasib Patel top-scored with 36 before his captain Connor Lord claimed a superb new ball 6-30 from 8.4 overs in Ribblesdale’s 66 all out, a 32-run victory margin for the hosts.

Farnworth also claimed their first win of 2024, by seven wickets chasing 94 at Eagley (93 all out).

Captain Ross Sutton excelled with 6-21 from 13 overs before Australian overseas amateur Liam Smith top-scored with 36 in reply. Sutton finished 19 not out, capping a memorable day.

Padiham’s second win was achieved by three wickets at home to Kearsley (107 all out).

Four wickets for captain Toby Burrows led the way in the first innings before South African OA Zander van Tonder top-scored with a well-paced 59 not out in reply, leading his side home from 91-7.

In a much calmer game, Farnworth Social Circle won their second game - at Astley Bridge - by 30 runs on the back of posting 173-7.

Captain Chris Lane top-scored with 45 opening the batting before Astley Bridge fell from 131-6 to 143 all out, Bajan pro Jameel Stuart wrapping up victory with 3-1.

Championship leaders Read brushed Cherry Tree aside by 86 runs at home.

South African Blayde Capell had an excellent day with 72 from number three in 247-6 and three wickets in Cherry Tree’s 161 all out.

They lead the way on 34 points with three wins from three - six points clear of Atherton, who lost at home to Earby (157-9) by 14 runs chasing 158.

Sri Lankan pro Raveen Yasas top-scored with 51 for Earby before claiming three wickets. Joe Robinson bettered him with four wickets as Atherton fell from 57-1 to 143 all out.

Oswaldtwistle Immanuel (71 all out) are level on 28 points with Atherton having bowled their visitors out for 43 when all had looked lost. Not one Oswaldtwistle batter made double figures before pro Mini Bhada claimed four wickets with the new ball to secure a 28-run win.

Baxenden have also won two games from three. They beat Brinscall at home in a thriller by three runs.

Baxenden were bowled out for 169. Captain Jake Hargreaves top-scored with a middle order 39 before pro Ben Gorton led the way with four wickets.

Brinscall fell from health at 154-6 and lost their last two wickets - both to Gorton - on 166.

And, finally, Feniscowles claimed their first win - at Barnsoldswick - by 20 runs having posted 187-6.

Opener Siraj Akhtar top-scored for Feniscowles with a measured 93no before the wickets were shared around in Barnoldswick’s 167-9.