finalBOLTON League stormed into the final of the inter-league competition with a comprehensive nine wicket thrashing of the Ribblesdale League, at Clitheroe.

The victory was very much down to a trio of Egerton players, who played key roles.

Bolton won the toss and put Ribblesdale into bat, but that decision appeared to have backfired when Ribblesdale put on 60 for the first wicket, shared by former Egerton, Bradshaw and Astley Bridge batsman Paul Stafford, and Craig Walton.

They went in quick succession, but Mike Bolton held the innings together with an unbeaten 51, and in particular shared in a fifth wicket stand of 59 with Alan Armer.

The pair took Ribblesdale to 137-5, but when Armer went, the rest of the batting collapsed. Ribblesdale were all out for 176 and unforgivably for them, failed to use seven of their allotted overs.

Egerton bowlers Ian Taylor took 3-49 and Iqbal Patel 3-27, while 17-year-old paceman Dale Jones, of Heaton, finished with 2-22.

In reply Bolton raced home for the loss of Andy Bowker for 57, who had shared a superb 152 opening partnership with Egerton's Gary Garner, who finished unbeaten on 93.

Bowker was making his inter-league debut after he came in for the injured Jonathan Fearick of Heaton.

Up to Bowker's dismissal, the pair did not give a chance and set up a final showdown on August 8 against the Northern League.