THE inability to build on a good start cost Bolton League Second XI as they lost by four wickets to the Central Lancashire League in the inaugural inter-league fixture.

Steve Butcher 44 and Gary Pilling 36 built an early platform, but with the exception of Ian Wilcox 17, nobody else reached double figures and the total of 144 always seemed 30 runs short.

This proved the case as the CLL passed the total for the loss of six wickets with three overs remaining.

The bowlers tried all they knew to defend the small total and Brendan Biggar with three for 29 and Paul Mort two for 26, came out with great credit for their 10 over returns.

The League were invited to a return fixture at a CLL venue during the course of next season, so setting up what hopefully becomes an annual fixture.

Bolton League

S Butcher lbw Welsby ...44

G Pilling c Welsby b Gilbertson ...36

I Wilcox c Jackson b Welsby ...17

N Hart b Jackson ...3

B Biggar c Holmes b Jackson ...4

J Trench b Butterworth ...2

P Burton b Gilbertson ...1

I Senior lbw Butterworth ...2

P Mort not out ...2

T Bradley c Schofield b Butterworth ...7

C Lomax b Butterworth ...4

Extras ...22

Total ...144

Bowling: I Gilbertson 10-3-22-2; R Jackson 10-2-22-2; S Williamson 10-0-39-0; D Welsby 10-3-19-2; M Butterworth 9.4-1-38-4.

Central Lancashire League

S Schofield c Wilcox b Biggar ...13

R Holmes c Wilcox b Biggar ...3

D Jarawala c Mort b Biggar ...13

P Bailey c Bradley b Trench ...32

R Jackson c Biggar b Mort ...7

D Hilton c Lomax b Mort ...0

D Welsby not out ...32

M Butterworth not out ...36

Extras ...11

Total (for 6) ...147

Bowling: T Bradley 9.5-1-23-0; C Lomax 1-0-3-0; B Biggar 10-2-29-3; N hart 10-1-32-0; P Mort 7-1-26-2; J Trench 4-0-15-1; P Burton 4-1-12-0.

CLL won by four wickets