LITTLE Lever grabbed the last Lancashire Knockout spot in spectacular fashion on the final day of the Fort James Bolton League season.

The Victory Road side needed a win to deny Westhoughton, but at 141-7 chasing Walkden's 172, it looked a lost cause.

Opening bowler Steve Hodkinson came to the rescue batting at number nine with a dazzling display of hitting which included two sixes and three fours in a whirlwind unbeaten 31which steered his side home by two wickets. Justin Orchard 52 and Paul Rayment 31 had been the earlier contributors.

Walkden were dismissed for 172 with Dave Smith 23, Matthew Parkinson 50 and Bernard Reidy 51. Orchard was chief wicket taker with 4-45.

After a miserable season Eagley ended on a high note with a nine wicket win over neighbours Bradshaw.

Professional Brad White played his last game before moving over to Westhoughton and the South African made it a memorable farewell with 7-38 to help skittle out Bradshaw for 72 before hitting 36 to help Eagley to 78-1.

He was out just before the end denying Eagley a 10 wicket win to make up for the previous day's 10 wicket defeat at Horwich.

Westhoughton were pipped for the Lancashire KO spot but hid their disappointment with an easy six wicket win over local rivals Horwich.

The visitors were held to 147-8 with Grant Long top scorer on 61. In reply Westhoughton's second wicket partnership of Mahboob 61 and Ian Pilkington 50 put on a match-winning 120 to steer their side home by four wickets.

Heaton skipper Gary Garner remained unbeaten on 77 as his side reached 144-9 but that was never enough against Farnworth who won by seven wickets to claim their second success of the weekend. Martin Axford scored 45 and professional Lee Childs 38 not out.

Astley Bridge finished bottom of the pile without a win all season after their 58 runs defeat at Farnworth Social Circle. The home side reached 211-9 as Richard Hope led the way with 52, but despite 48 from Sajid Mahmood, Bridge were dismissed for 153.

THERE was controversy at Greenmount when the game was abandoned after nine overs. The home side had reached 70-0 with Saeed Anwar on 46 when the fielders of champions Kearsley complained the ground was unfit and the umpires agreed. IQBAL Sikander reached a notable milestone in his final game for Tonge when he took his 800th wicket.

The Pakistani wrist spinner, who has decided to quit after seven record breaking seasons, took 3-31 to add to Ian Taylor's excellent bowling figures of 7-26 which skittled out Egerton for 67.

The visitors finished second, one place above the four-times champions, but it was Tonge who had the last laugh. They overtook the score for the loss of three wickets with Iqbal top scoring on 26.

In the five seasons they have been in tandem Taylor and Sikander have captured 939 wickets, while in the two previous seasons Iqbal took 241 wickets.