WITH the championship settled, the attention now turns to qualification for next season's Lancashire Knockout with possibly five clubs, Egerton, Tonge, Westhoughton, Little Lever and Walkden chasing the three remaining places.

Tonge did their hopes no harm inflicting a 128 run defeat on Bradshaw thanks to an innings of 84 from Iqbal Sikander. Simon Anderton also made a hefty contribution of 67 to the 210-7 total then Iqbal completed the victory with the ball taking 6-36 to spin Bradshaw out for 82, ian Taylor as usual sharing the bowling honours with 4-37.

Westhoughton were made to suffer at Greenmount and just about hung on for the draw at 63-9 after Saeed Anwar had taken 4-22 and Mark Stewart 4-31. Earlier Greenmount had totalled 150-9, Anwar 53 and Mark Fallon 41, Lancashire's Gary Yates, desputising for injured pro Bhanabai, claiming 4-47 and Mahboob 4-81.

Little Lever's chances improved when they beat Astley Bridge by eight wickets. Lee Baldwin was again their man of the match taking 5-44 as Bridge totalled 116 before hitting 47 not out along with Paul Rayment's 39 not out in a winning reply of 129-2.

Walkden's outside chance of qualification was helped by their 53 run win at Horwich where Mike Bennison top scored with 41 in a total of 175-7.

In reply Horwich were bowled out for 122, David Smith 3-15 and Bernard Reidy 3-10.