The final four rounds of this summer’s Anthony Axford North West Cricket League will see a quartet of teams battle it out for the Premiership title, with leaders Blackrod and fourth-placed Salesbury separated by only 19 points.
Both those teams were losers on Saturday, while second-placed Little Lever and Padiham in third both won.
Blackrod (173 points, 14 wins from 18 games) were beaten at home by in-form Eagley, whose third straight win was achieved by 24 runs as they bowled their hosts out for 118 in reply to 142-6.
Harvey Seigne had a good day with 38 opening the batting for Eagley before claiming three wickets with his spin.
Fellow twirler Luca Doyle struck four times following an unbeaten 25, while James Richards top-scored with 47 for the visitors, who are all but safe after some relegation fears.
Little Lever (161 points) claimed a four-wicket victory at home to Tonge, who they had bowled out for 125, thanks to four wickets for Indian overseas amateur Nipun Gaikwad.
After starring with his spinners, Gaikwad top-scored in pursuit with 33.
Like the defending champions, Padiham (160) also won for the 13th time.
They beat Salesbury (154) by 52 runs at home, bowling their visitors out for 91 in pursuit of 144.
Joseph Edgar top-scored with a middle-order 30 in Padiham’s 143-8, before Oliver Parr put the skids under Salesbury with a superb 5-22.
In the Championship, Baxenden won at Barnoldswick by 177 runs, the hosts claiming an unwanted record in that their 24 all out – chasing 202 – marked the lowest total in two years of first-team NWCL cricket.
Baxenden professional Ben Gorton opened with 66 in 201-6, before Haris Masood took a stunning 7-10 from six overs with the new ball to claim an eighth win in 17. He struck three times in four balls across his first two overs.
Baxenden are fourth on 123 points with three games remaining, 15 adrift of second-placed Walkden. But they have four to play in the bid for promotion.
Walkden (138 points) were actually beaten on Saturday – by third-placed Atherton (135).
Hosts Atherton won by four wickets in reply to Walkden’s 143 all out.
Zeeshan Alsam took the new ball and claimed four wickets for Atherton before Bajan OA Jamaine Bullen top-scored with a middle-order 42 in reply to leave the gap between the two teams at three points with four to play.
Either of those two sides can forget catching leaders Read (175 points).
They beat Whalley at home by 89 runs and need just one more win from four games to secure promotion.
Opener Dec Bailey top-scored with 48 in 207-8 to set up win number 15 from 16. Joe Halstead took the new ball and claimed four wickets in Whalley’s 118 all out.
They host Atherton this coming Saturday.
Back in the Premiership, Astley Bridge beat Ribblesdale Wanderers in the battle of the bottom two – by eight wickets at home as they successfully chased 100.
Bottom-side Bridge’s third win was achieved after a polished all-round bowling display which saw David Cryer claim three wickets in Ribblesdale’s 99 all out. All six bowlers used struck before South African pro Alexander Kok top-scored with 46 in reply.
But it now looks likely both teams will be relegated. With four games remaining, Lostock are 23 points clear of Wanderers, with Bridge a point worse off.
Lostock claimed a crucial win at Farnworth Social Circle, by 79 runs – their fourth win.
Rob Holgate top-scored in the visitors’ 170-9 before Tom Sheen took the new ball and returned a superb 5-27 in Social Circle’s 91 all out, which saw them fall to 5-4.
Fifth-placed Farnworth beat Kearsley by six wickets in the other Premiership fixture.
Matthew Hicks, Kian Rogerson and Liam Smith all claimed three wickets in Kearsley’s 129 all out before before Australian OA Smith led the successful chase with 73, securing an 11th win.
Back in the Championship, mid-table duo Brinscall and Earby claimed home victories – the eighth successes of their respective campaigns.
Brinscall beat Cherry Tree by seven wickets chasing 90.
Sri Lankan pro Madura Madushanka excelled with both ball and then bat.
He claimed 5-24 with his off-spin in Cherry Tree’s 89 all out before top-scoring with an unbeaten 52.
And Earby won by nine wickets against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel chasing 148.
Sri Lankan pro Raveen Yasas struck three times with his left-arm spinners in Oswaldtwistle’s 147 all out before he top-scored with an unbeaten 66, only just bettering opener Evan Dobson’s unbeaten 64.
They shared an unbroken 129 for the second wicket to seal the full 12 points on offer.
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