NWCL round-up: Walken maintain their push for promotion

Muzammil Nizam starred with an innings-high 39 in Walkden’s 168 all out, a total ultimately leading to a 10th win in 13.

In reply, Cherry Tree (155 all out) were encouragingly placed at 71-2. But they fell to 71-4 before Nizam claimed four of the last six wickets to fall.

Walkden (123 points) were boosted further by news of third-placed Atherton’s defeat away at Barnoldswick - by 97 runs.

Atherton are now sat on 99 points with nine to play in the second tier. They were bowled out for 124 by a lowly Barnoldswick side who won for only the fourth time.

Unbeaten Jonathan Beech top-scored with an excellent middle order 84 in 221-4, also including Adil Khan’s opening 62. In defence, Barnoldswick were indebted to four wickets for Indian sub pro Punit Bisht in Atherton’s 124 all out.

In the Premiership, Salesbury maintained the pressure on leading duo Blackrod and Little Lever with a superb win by one run at Tonge, another amongst a host of close-fought games across the two divisions.

Captain Peter Richardson’s men won a 43 overs per side thriller as they successfully defended a 152-target. Salesbury’s ninth win in 13 leaves them fourth on 117 points, 29 behind leaders Blackrod with a game in hand.

Tonge went into the final over on 145-7, needing seven. But Lewis Pearson, who took the new ball, claimed one wicket added to a run out, leaving Connor Lord needing to hit the last ball for six. They finished 150-9.

Pearson was one of three bowlers who claimed two wickets. Earlier, Australian overseas amateur Brandon Faber led Salesbury’s 151-9 with a fine 75.

Blackrod and Little Lever continue their fascinating top two battle.

Leaders Blackrod (146 points) hold sway having won 12 of 14 games.

They beat Astley Bridge by eight wickets on home turf, chasing 106.

New ball seamer Matthew Readey impressed again with four wickets as bottom side Astley Bridge were bowled out for 105. Readey’s fourth wicket was his 50th in all cricket this season.

There was a brief Blackrod scare when they slipped to 13-2, but Sri Lankan pro Navod Paranavithana added 39 not out to three wickets. He shared an unbroken third-wicket 93 with unbeaten Bajan OA Antonio Greenidge, who top-scored with 53.

Little Lever’s (124 points) 10th win in 13 was not as comfortable despite bowling Eagley out for 106. Indian OA Nipun Gaikwad spun his way to four wickets.

But the visitors fell to 86-6, including the departure of opener and top-scorer Joe Capstick for 24.

However, the champions held on to maintain hopes of the seasonal double given they have qualified for next month’s Hamer Cup final.

Padiham are still in the title race on 122 points in third. Win number 10 was achieved by 51 runs at home to Farnworth Social Circle.

Callum Clarke’s patient 55 was the cornerstone of 184 all out before Sri Lankan sub pro Anuk Fernando impressed with 6-56 as the visitors replied with 133 all out.

Fifth-placed Farnworth’s ninth win was achieved by three wickets at Lostock as they successfully chased 183 with only two balls remaining.

Opener Alex Rodzoch’s fabulous 98 not out led the recovery from 24-3, and he hit the winning runs. Earlier, Australian pro Conor Spinks and captain Ross Sutton equally shared six wickets in relegation-threatened Lostock’s 182-8.

Lostock are 10 points clear of second-bottom Ribblesdale Wanderers, who lost at home to Kearsley by 71 runs in a reduced 36-over game which saw visiting overseas amateur Byron Giraudeaux shine with an opening 104 not out.

The South African underpinned Kearsley’s 229-5 before Naveed Gondal took the new ball and claimed four wickets in Ribblesdale’s 160 all out. Gondal had earlier hit 38 for a mid-table Kearsley side with six wins from 14.

In the Championship, hosts and leaders Read won their 12th game from 13, brushing Earby aside by 127 runs to maintain their stranglehold on promotion.

South African pro Blayde Capell’s stunning 133 off 118 balls included six sixes and underpinned an imposing 289-7 total from their 45 overs. He shared 112 for the second wicket with captain Will Wrathall (61).

In reply, Earby’s task was forlorn, especially when they slipped to 35-5.

They did well to recover to 162 all out and respectability, but Matthew Heap led the way for Read with four wickets. They are 16 points clear of second-placed Walkden and, more importantly, 40 in front of Atherton in third.

Brinscall claimed a thrilling win at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, by two wickets chasing 112.

They had to creep home from 90-8 for their sixth win in 13, one which maintained their promotion hopes. They have 92 points in fourth place, 31 behind Walkden.

Captain Sam Maclachlan and Finley Best struck three times apiece to bowl Oswaldtwistle out for 111 before Brinscall wobbled, slipping from 56-2 to that aforementioned 90-8.

But Atiq Shah’s middle order 25 not out was crucial in sealing victory in a match which saw only two batters reach 20.

Adam Masood stood out as Baxenden secured their sixth win from 13 games - this one by 122 runs - claiming a superb new ball 6-19 from 10.5 overs as Feniscowles were bowled out for 62 chasing 185.

Hosts Baxenden posted 184-7, with opener and pro Ben Gorton top-scoring with a measured 63. In defence, Masood claimed four wickets in nine balls at one stage to wreck Feniscowles’ chances.