BOLTON hit form over the Bank Holiday weekend with two fine victories and a winning draw.

The local lads stepped up their Manchester Association Premier League campaign with a win over Bury on Monday and a draw with Brooksbottom two days earlier.

In between they hammered Red Rose in the Skipton Lancashire Cricket Association Knockout Trophy.

Against Brooksbottom Mudassar and Sackfield got Bolton off to a solid start as they put on 84 for the first wicket.

Bolton at one stage lost six wickets for just 18 runs as they went on to total 176.

They made a flying start as they took the first wicket for just one run but then Hudson and Chilton steadied the innings with a stand of 36. Brooksbottom never looked like getting close to the target but held out with just one wicket remaining to deny Bolton victory.

The following day they produced their best day of the season to knock Red Rose out of the Lancashire Association Knockout.

A hard true pitch provided 537 runs for the loss of only seven wickets. Mudassar and Sackville set the tone with an opening partnership of 168 in 30 overs as Bolton went on to make 284-2, Mudassar remaining unbeaten on 161.

The bowlers finished the job as Bolton won by 41 runs.

Twenty four hours later Bury, despite good knocks by Brawin (47) and Taylor (31), were dismissed for 147, mainly due to tight bowling in which Nadeem took 5-36 in 13 overs.

The Bolton openers Nazar and Sackfield were rarely troubled and passed the Bury total without being separated.

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