A TOWERING six from Craig Lavelle lifted the Bolton League out of trouble to earn them their fifth Lancashire inter-league title yesterday.

Chasing a victory target of 166 set by the Central Lancs League, they were coasting to victory at 92-0 at the halfway mark but then found themselves struggling to make runs.

And it wasn't until the final over that the cool heads of Kearsley's Lavelle and Egerton's Wayne Harper managed to pull the game round.

Earlier, Central Lancs won the toss and batted but were always in trouble against pacemen Ian Taylor and Mark Stewart. The Bolton pair had Central Lancs on the ropes at 90-7 but a partnership of 57 between captain John Punchard and Stephen Moore helped rally the cause before the side were finally dismissed for 165.

Taylor and Stewart finished with identical figures of 3-23 while Bolton wicketkeeper and captain Tim Wallwork put on a superb show behind the wicket. When Bolton batted Nigel Partington and Steve Davies were in complete control. They sprayed shots around the ground and put on an opening partnership of 92 before the impressive Partington was out for 36.

That brought Dave Morris out to partner Davies but the pair became strangely becalmed leaving the Central Lancs bowlers sensing a breakthrough.

Davies was eventually out for 51 with Morris following shortly afterwards and when David White was stumped without scoring Bolton found themselves facing a steadily increasing run rate. Fortunately Lavelle and Harper steadied the innings but still needed five to win off the last over. Lavelle made short work of that with his winning six to take Bolton's record to five wins and one shared out of 12 finals. Lavelle finished on 20 not out and Harper 10 not out while 25 extras were also a help.

Former Bolton League player Colin Gradwell named Stephen Davies as the man of the match.

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