EAGLEY produced one of the finishes of the season to win their way through to the second round of the Thwaites Lancashire Knockout.

After being bowled out for 112, Liverpool Manweb looked poised to win the tie as they reached 104-8.

Imran Javed had been punished with 15 runs being taken off one his overs but when he switched ends it changed the game.

He bowled the number eight batsmen then followed it up by dismissing another to leave the score at 109-9 before bowling the last man with Manweb needing just two runs to win the game.

That particular spell gave him figures of 3-0 and a final analysis of 3-21. There were also good bowling performances by two young players drafted in from the club's junior sides. Second teamer Glen Carruthers finished with three wickets for 19 runs and Gary Prendergast, who plays for the third team, had three for 21.

Earlier Javed had held the fragile Eagley innings together scoring 32 after they had lost wickets regularly and they never looked like achieving a winning score until the professional took matters into his own hands.

Champions Walkden came out on top of an all-Bolton League clash with Astley Bridge after captain Mike Bennison's knock of 89 helped them to a total of 225-7, Tony Keays and pro Douglas Watson both adding 39. In reply Astley Bridge were reduced to 41-5 after 19 overs, Phil Ingram claiming three wickets for eight runs off his nine overs, Walkden winning the game on run rate.

AN unbeaten stand of 45 by Mark Halliwell and Eddie Haddon earned Adlington a five wickets win over Association rivals Atherton in a low scoring Thwaites Lancashire Knockout second round match.

Atherton were in trouble from the start losing pro Greg Dimery with only eight on the board. That was the start of a procession of batsmen back to the pavilion and with 29 extras in a final total of 88, it showed the problems posed by the Adlington bowlers.

Atherton, however, caused nerves to jangle in the Adlington side as they started to take cheap wickets and when the home side were 44-5 it was looking as if there was going to be a tight finish.

Fortunately they still had opener Halliwell at the crease and when Haddon joined him the pair managed to stick it out to ease their way past the Atherton total. Halliwell finished unbeaten on 26, with Haddon 26 not out.

Westhoughton had a comfortable win over Skelmersdale in a match decided by the Duckworth Lewis method, Adam Coates top scored with 45 and Ian Pilkington added 42 and Mark Atherton 37 not out in a handsome Westhoughton total of 234-7. Against that Skelmersdale were never able to get on top of the bowling and although Jonas Smith hit 40, their total of 80-5 when the game was abandoned saw the Bolton League side win by 55 runs on countback.

Golborne, so far unbeaten in the Association, suffered a shock eight wickets home defeat by Palace Shield side Great Eccleston.

Batting first, the Golborne batsmen never really got to grips with the game and were bundled out for a disappointing 134 in 34 overs, Alder producing the best bowling for the Fylde side with 3-24 off his nine overs.

Golborne could do little with the ball either, and Great Eccleston fairly romped to victory hitting 136-2 in 26 overs, Yeomans top scoring with an unbeaten 62.