The first-round in this season’s Hamer Cup in the North West Cricket League saw some big scoring batsmen in fine form.

Blayde Capell, with 131 from 108 deliveries, helped Read to 232-9 from their 40 overs on Sunday. Shayne Moseley took 3-27 for Atherton and then hit 73 runs in an 95-run opening partnership with Oliver Gredecki, but a middle-order collapse left them on 135-7.

Nilesh Lamichaney was another player to score 131 in Barnoldswick’s 245-5, adding 165 with Jonathan Beech. However, Baxenden overtook this for the loss of four wickets, despite a mini collapse which saw them losing three wickets for three runs at a comfortable 144-1. Ben Gorton scored 64 and Adam Masood 60.

Stefan Breuninger made 63 in Earby’s 182-6, Cameron Murray taking 3-39 for Kearsley. Raveen Yasas, with 3-11, and Joe Robinson, with 3-24, helped bowl out Kearsley for 124.

Skipper Ross Sutton struck 88 not out and Liam Smith a half-century in Farnworth’s 238-4. Smith then took 6-26 and Connor Spinks 3-36 to dismiss Walkden for 173.

Luca Doyle (5-16) and Harvey Seigne (3-19) combined to shoot Feniscowles out for 72, which Eagley overcame for the loss of two wickets.

Alex Kok fell one short of his half-century in Astley Bridge’s 156-7, Niall Heyes with 3-13 for Oswaldtwistle Immanuel. Ishmael Patel took 4-23 as OI were dismissed for 113.

Whalley recovered from 80-6 to reach 141-8, with Divan Von Tonder the pick of the Brinscall bowlers with 3-23. This proved to be 11 runs too many for Brinscall. as Sam Jackson took 4-14 and Frankie Jackson 3-40.

Round Two draw: (matches to be played June 2): Salesbury v Tonge, Blackrod v Little Lever, Astley Bridge v Whalley, Cherry Tree v Earby, Read v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Eagley v Lostock, Padiham v Baxenden, Farnworth v Farnworth Social Circle.