TONGE took the first round honours in the Bolton League's top of the table clash with a dramatic last ball, late night finish at Walkden.

They went into the final over needing nine to overhaul Walkden's 171-6 but Nigel Harris eased that situation with towering six off the third ball.

A single then brought Simon Anderton on strike and he scored the winning runs at 9.15 after Walkden were left to bowl a minimum of 17 overs in a rain affected last hour.

Ian Taylor had opened the Tonge innings with 34 out of an opening stand of 68 with Matthew Bode whose 57 was his fourth consecutive league half century.

Steve Clarkson top scored in the Walkden innings with 64 and Lockie Allardice chipped in with 48. Westhoughton kept up the pace at the top after they skittled Farnworth for a meagre 56. And former Westhoughton player Graham Hill scored 35 of those runs as the Farnworth batsmen suffered a torrid time against Patrick Holder.

The West Indian took six wickets for six runs as Farnworth were reduced to 13-7 while Westhoughton too had the jitters when they batted being 11-3 before Steve Parker's unbeaten 30 steered them to a seven wicket win.

Kearsley got back to winning ways with an eight wicket success at Astley Bridge. The overcast conditions suited Terry Southworth's bowling and he took 4-28 as Bridge were all out for 136, Richard Northrop top scoring with 51. Paul Berry then led the Kearsley reply hitting an unbeaten 63.

Greenmount looked to have an easy task as they dismissed Horwich for 91, Mark Stewart taking four wickets, but they didn't find the route to victory easy. Gary Chadwick's unbeaten 32 managed to pulled things round after early wickets had fallen but it still needed a four off the last ball from Alan Sidley to clinch their two wicket win.

Rain ruined a possible close finish at Eagley where Farnworth Social Circle were 190-7 chasing the home side's 210-7. Mike Ward hit 69 for Eagley and Ian Edwards 37 for Circle.

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