LEADERS Kearsley hit the top score of the day piling up 183 runs more than their opponents yet it didn't give them winning points.

Jason Swift hit 160 not out, 15 fours and nine sixes, in Kearsley's massive 279-5 while Bradshaw totalled 96-6, Dave Morris providing more than half of those runs with 55. Kearsley pro Akber finished with 5-64.

It was a similar story at Walkden where the home side totalled 217-8 while Astley Bridge were 165-9 in reply.

For Walkden pro David Smith hit 57, Mike Bennison 54 and John Hinks 31 before Matthew Parkinson took 4-71. Danny Guest was Bridge's top scorer with 45, teenage off spinner William Halton claiming 3-46. Little Lever produced one of their best performances of the summer as they dismissed Tonge for 87 to seal a 56 run win.

Lee Baldwin was the Victory Road hero capturing 41-6 with pro Paul Rayment taking the other three wickets for 39, only Nigel Hallows with 27 showing any real batting form for Tonge.

Earlier Baldwin had scored 31 while Jon Kerrigan top scored with 46 when Little Lever batted.

Tonge's only real success of the day came from the usual quarters - pro Sikander 6-62 and Ian Taylor 4-64. EGERTON continued to stalk leaders Kearsley after wrapping up a comfortable eight wickets win at Farnworth.

The home side were restricted to 148-6 despite solid performances from Stuart Anderson 42 not out, pro Lee Childs 36 and Anthony Axford 34 but that was never enough to deter Egerton.

Tim Barry took the lead role hitting an unbeaten 65 with pro Neil McGarrell also playing a huge part with 53 not out as Egerton coasted to 149-2.

Both Eagley and Westhoughton had weakened sides out but it was a first team wicket-taker who decided matters.

Westhoughton's Patrick Holder took seven wickets for 27 runs as Eagley were bundled out for only 70 - a score that was always well within the reach of the visitors.

Steve Parker 24 not out and Mahboob put on 30 for the first wicket before they finished six wicket winners on 71-4.

Greenmount's good run continued with a two wicket win at Heaton where pro Saeed Anwar hit another unbeaten half century.

His 54 not out plus 39 from Jimmy Horrox helped Greenmount to overhaul Heaton's 163-6, Mark Mort top scoring for the Lower Pools side with 48 and Andy Patterson hitting 32.

Frustrated

Horwich were frustrated by the weather after Darren Preston's bowling had put them on top against Farnworth Social Circle.

A total of 152-6 wasn't much to defend but Preston ripped the heart out of Circle's early order reducing them to 38-4.

That's when the rain came down but when they got out again there was more trouble for Circle as they limped to 76-6 off 41 overs only for bad light to finish the game,

Preston took 4-30 off 15 overs while earlier Circle pro Kevin Darlington claimed 4-61 off 25.