Read in the box seat after Farnworth Social Circle's slip

Yahoo

18 hours ago

Read took a significant step towards the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Premiership title on Saturday as they won at Eagley and closest rivals Farnworth Social Circle were beaten at Kearsley.
Read's 11th win in 12 games was achieved with comfort as they defended 209-7 from 45 overs to prevail by 55 runs against a relegation-threatened Eagley side who sit second-bottom.
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Sri Lankan professional Sehan Weerasinghe enjoyed a notable day for a Read side who have lost only once in all competitions and claimed the full 12 points. He top-scored with a composed 68 before claiming 5-22 with his off-spin in Eagley's 154 all out.
Farnworth Social Circle slipped to a 44-run defeat at Kearsley, whose seventh win in 12 has elevated them into fourth place.
Kearsley opener Mohmedruhan Tirmizi top-scored with 76 in a commanding 275-7 before new-ball pair Mustafa Bashir and Irfan Kareem equally shared eight wickets in the visitors' 231 all out.
Social Circle suffered only their third league defeat of 2025 and are sat on 103 points, with Read pulling away on 126.
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Kearsley's win was one of two particularly eye-catching victories - one in either division.
Walkden's Championship resurgence continued as they chased a 292-target at Baxenden thanks to a sensational 127 off 71 balls from number three for Indian overseas amateur Saqlain Haider.
Walkden had lost their first eight league games and sat rooted bottom of the table. But they have won their last four. Their latest was achieved by five wickets with more than six overs remaining.
Mid-table Baxenden put themselves into a strong position through Australian OA Mitchell Slattery's fine opening 107. He underpinned 291-8, in which Imran Ali and Moinuddin Saiyed claimed two wickets each.
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But Haider crashed nine fours and eight sixes for ninth-placed Walkden.
Ribblesdale Wanderers strengthened their position at the top of the Championship with a thrilling nine-run win away at fellow challengers Cherry Tree.
Ribblesdale's ninth win came as Australian OA Jordan Kelly top-scored with an opening 72 off 63 balls in 271-7, to which Cherry Tree replied with 262 all out.
Cherry Tree lost their last five wickets for 28 from 234-5. Ian Britcliffe took the new ball and struck five times.
Ribblesdale sit top on 119 points from 14 games, Whalley are second on 105 from 12 and Cherry Tree are third on 94 from 11.
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Oswaldtwistle Immanuel stymied Whalley's promotion push, claiming a 23-run win defending 179-9.
Wicketkeeper-opener James Clark top-scored with 42 for the mid-table hosts, whose sixth win in 13 was later secured as professional Zohaib Khan claimed four wickets in Whalley's 156 all out reply.
Whalley lost but held on to second as Cherry Tree lost and fourth-placed Barnoldswick also missed the chance to pressurise.
They were beaten by 70 runs away at Earby, whose fourth win in 12 came defending 182 all out. Barnoldswick were bowled out for 112 in reply.
Sri Lankan pro Dunith Jayathunga enjoyed a standout day for eighth-placed Earby with 56 and 5-32 with his leg-spin.
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Reigning champions Blackrod replaced Padiham in third place in the Premiership by beating them away by five wickets.
Blackrod successfully replied to 159 all out, securing a seventh win in 12. Bajan OA Renaldo Holder struck four times with his seam, a haul matched by Jacob Ashworth.
Sri Lankan pro Navod Paranavithana then opened up with a fine 94 off 97 balls, the key innings in a chase which consigned Padiham to a fifth defeat in 12 and fifth place.
Blackrod have 87 points from 12 games, 16 adrift of Farnworth SC in second and 39 behind leaders Read. Kearsley, who make up the top-four places, have 86 points.
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Sixth-placed Tonge beat Little Lever by two wickets away from home and jumped one place above them.
Tonge have a won six, lost six record after successfully replying to 217-6.
The visiting wickets were shared around, with Sri Lankan pro Hashan Dumindu striking twice before he top-scored with a calm 66. Hasib Patel also hit a middle-order 58. But both men then fell to give Little Lever hope at 184-7.
However, Shoyab Haji saw Tonge home in the penultimate over with two sixes in 22 not out.
At the other end of the top flight, Lostock gave themselves breathing space from the bottom two sides, deepening Farnworth's relegation fears at the foot of the table with a two-wicket away win chasing 180.
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Farnworth were bowled out for 179 as Lostock's successful bid for win number four was inspired by Reece Gray's excellent all-round display.
He claimed four wickets having taken the new ball and helped recover the visitors from 87-5 in reply with an innings top-score of 34 batting at number six.
Farnworth sit bottom on 48 points, level on points with Eagley. Atherton are just above on 59 points and Lostock have 63.
Just above those, in eighth, are Salesbury. They won for the fifth time this summer, this time by six wickets chasing 171 at Atherton (170-7).
South African pro Garnett Tarr was a significant contributor with two wickets having taken the new ball and an innings-high 48 in a successful reply. Liam Parkinson, who also bowls spin, claimed three wickets for Salesbury.
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Finally, back in the Championship, mid-table Astley Bridge beat bottom-side Brinscall to secure their sixth win in 12.
This one was achieved at home by 97 runs as Sri Lankan pro Dhanushka Dhamasiri starred with a brilliant middle-order 116 off 87 balls in 266-5.
In reply, Brinscall were bowled out for 169 as Irfan Puda returned eye-catching figures of 5-13 from 10 overs, including a hat-trick. He had Phil Lowe and Chris Ware caught and, sandwiched in between, Finlay Best lbw.