LOSTOCK have become the first former Bolton Association side to cement their place in next year's Bolton League top flight after edging out Daisy Hill by 12 runs on Saturday.

Many games across the town were rain-affected but all matches were completed as next season's top division begins to take shape.

After Lostock's openers were both dismissed for ducks, Jaydyn Simmons hit 23 before Oliver Turner added 28 to post a score of 123-8. Stephen Hodgkinson was the only bowler of note taking 4-39.

Jake Wilde top scored with 22 in reply, but the brilliant bowling of Tom Sheen (3-25) and Rob Holgate (4-43) had Daisy bowled out for 102 while chasing a revised target of 114.

Horwich secured their place in next season's top division with a one-run win against Bradshaw.

Opener Phil Ingram knocked 89 as Horwich ran up a tally of 209-8 in the first innings.

Stuart Hornby (5-64) and Atiq-uz-Zaman (2-25) were the only bowlers of note.

Rain meant the Rigbys outfit had to chase down a revised target of 146 from 25 overs, and Hornby turned his hand to the bat hitting 56.

Skipper Nick Lester chipped in with 37 not out. The game was taken to the last ball but a run out meant that Bradshaw posted 145-5 – one run short of the target.

Faisal Zeeshan Hussain starred with the ball for Kearsley as they eased past Little Lever – wrapping up their spot in the top flight.

Hussain produced impressive bowling figures of 6-44, which along with Mohammed Jameel's 4-32 had the Victory Road side bowled out for 78.

Kearsley were set a revised target of 75 and Chris Baxendale (19 not out) and Jameel (26 not out) completed the turnaround with six wickets to spare.

Professional Qaisar Abbas was impressive with the bat and ball for Westhoughton as they recorded a comfortable victory at home to Adlington.

Abbas knocked 123 and Charlie Honour added 33 not out as the Howfeners set their visitors a target of 207-5.

Openers Steven Wright (38) and Simon Trim (36) started the response well, but no other batsman managed to achieve double figures and Adlington were bowled out for 105 while chasing a revised target of 198.

The win leaves Westhoughton third in the table and guarantees them a spot in the top division next year.

Tonge put in a spirited performance but failed to get their first win of the season away to Astley Bridge.

Soyab Taylor (26) and Matt Hargreaves (34) opened the scoring for the Sharples Park side before Syd De Silva knocked a huge 82.

Yasir Rashid chipped in with 27 as Astley Bridge ran up a total of 235-5.

Tonge were set a revised target of 217 and held their own with the bat. Mohammad Arif hit 36 and Syed Abid added 30.

Ali Usmani struck 22 but the bowling attack led by David Cryer (4-34) proved too much and Tonge fell 71 runs short of the target.

Farnworth Social Circle put themselves within four points of clinching the Bolton League title after defeating neighbours Farnworth.

Adil Nisar (30), Nakash Qumar (28) and Simon Booth (26) all knocked decent totals as the Lavender Road side ran up a tally of 156-8.

Dave Mather did his best to restrict the score by taking 4-72.

Bragging rights were secured by the Piggott Park outfit through opening duo David Tonge (44) and Liam Ashworth (24) who spearheaded the response and wrapped up a six-wicket win.

And Social Circle skipper Matt Parkinson was delighted with the win, but insists his team must remain focused in all of the last three games to try to complete the season unbeaten.

He said. “It was a difficult wicket but we batted really well early on which put us in a good place to go on and win it. I think we were 70-0 when the first wicket fell.

“The start enabled us to kick on and knock the total off with four wickets to spare.

“Hopefully we can get the win against Horwich next weekend and wrap the title up with two games to spare. Horwich are a difficult side and I'm sure they will want to get one over on us.

“It would be some achievement if we could go the season unbeaten. I think only four teams have ever gone a whole season unbeaten but it would be a great honour to add our names to that list.

“However, we have to have our heads switched on and focus on every one of the last three games.

“It was a good day all round really with our firsts and seconds beating Farnworth.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan Fowler and Tahir Maqsood both bowled five-wicket hauls as Walkden made an easy job of beating Little Hulton.

Fowler (5-16) and Maqsood (5-14) took charge of the ball and bowled Little Hulton all out for a shockingly low score of 30.

Openers Aman Arora (16) and Taylor Hayes (15) led the reply to ensure Walkden remain second in the league table and they secured their place in next season's top division.

Golborne produced the shock of the day by denting Eagley's top-10 hopes with a fine 41-run victory.

Johann Brohier knocked 31 and skipper Tom Pantak scored a late half-century as Golborne achieved a score of 139 before being bowled out.

The damage with the ball was dealt by sub professional Raz Khan (5-35) and Will Shuttleworth (3-45).

Shuttleworth top scored when he turned his hand to the bat knocking 19, but Eagley struggled with the bowling of Muzammil Nizam (4-14) and Jake Waterworth (3-43) and were dismissed for 89 while chasing a revised target of 130.

Golborne's victory opens the door for the chasing teams, with Blackrod sitting in 11th place and only three points outside of the top 10 after defeating Darcy Lever.

Thushendra de Zoysa scored 34 and Joe Speak knocked 46 at the tail end as Blackrod posted a score of 171-9.

Scott Burns (4-48) and Alex Lee (3-34) starred with the ball, before Burns struck 15 when he turned his hand to the bat.

Gareth Hopkinson top-scored with 16 but Darcy were bowled all out for 81 due to the impressive bowling of Blackrod skipper Chris Sanderson (5-38) and Matt Fanning (3-14).

Atherton moved to within four points of the top 10 after beating Standish by four wickets.

Paul Hogarth scored 22 and Nick Smith knocked 26 as they ran up a total of 102 before being bowled out.

Amar Ullah (5-20) Josh Gilluley (3-41) did the damage with the ball.

Callum Barlow (20) and Matt Gallagher (42 not out) starred with the bat as Atherton achieved their revised target of 97 for the loss of six wickets.

Chris Gunn was the only bowler of note taking 4-30.

Results

Astley Bridge 235-5, Tonge 146-8 (revised target 217). Astley Bridge won by 71 runs.

Atherton 97-6 (revised target 97), Standish 102. Atherton won by 4 wkts.

Blackrod 171-9, Darcy Lever 81 (revised target 143). Blackrod won by 62 runs.

Daisy Hill 102 (revised target 114), Lostock 123-8. Lostock won by 12 runs.

Eagley 89 (revised target 130), Golborne 139. Golborne won by 41 runs.

Farnworth Social Circle 142-4 (revised target 142), Farnworth 156-8. Farnworth Social Circle won by 6 wkts.

Horwich 209-8, Bradshaw 145-5 (revised target 146). Horwich won by 1 run.

Little Lever 78, Kearsley 76-4 (revised target 75). Kearsley won by 6 wkts.

Walkden 31-0, Little Hulton 30. Walkden won by 10 wkts.

Westhoughton 207-5, Atherton 105 (revised target 198). Westhoughton won by 93 runs.