Farnworth beat neighbours Farnworth Social Circle to move within one point of them at the top of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premiership last weekend.

Farnworth, who also have a game in hand on Social Circle, scored 194-9, with Zahid Butt top-scoring with 55 after David Tonge took 4-63.

In reply, Social Circle were bowled out for 168, with Chris Walsh top-scoring with 54 after Mehr Khan took 4-16.

Astley Bridge won their second game in a row as they hosted Burnley Belvedere seconds.

The latter were dismissed for 134, with Hashim Akhtar (3-26) and Ramesh Patel (3-53) both taking three wickets.

After being 69-8, Astley Bridge managed to win the game despite being nine wickets down, thanks to a 44-run partnership between Hashim Akhtar (32) and Abdullah Akhtar (23 not out), despite Amir Abbas taking 5-43.

Bottom-placed Foulridge firsts got a shock win as they hosted title contenders, Barrowford firsts.

The latter were dismissed for 114 after Shahbaz Munir shined with the ball, taking 6-37. Foulridge then won the game by four wickets after 32.3 overs.

Little Lever boosted their chances of winning the league after a victory at home against Cherry Tree.

The hosts were bowled out for 161, with Preston Hayhurst top-scoring with 49 after Daniel Lord took 4-31. Cherry Tree were then dismissed for 104 after Paul Hewart took 5-23.

Read won their third game in a row as they hosted Ribblesdale Wanderers.

Wanderers were dismissed for 127 after Isaac Spence took 5-23.

Read then won the game by five wickets, with Elliot Lowes top-scoring with 41.

Padiham have 147 points from 15 games in the second division.

On Saturday they amassed 332-9 from their 45 overs, Toby Uttley-Muldoon (141) and Rhys Meehan (65) adding 159. Matt Crompton took 4-42 for Baxenden, who were then dismissed for 120, Tim Drugan scoring 65 of these, Jimmy Gray taking 4-66 and Harry Starkie 5-51.

Unar Saadat had 4-16 as Foulridge seconds were dismissed for 61.

Burnley Beldevere’s six-wicket win leaves them in second place one point behind Padiham, but with a game in hand.

Jacob Ashworth took 4-44 in Oswaldtwistle Immanuel’s 148-9, but Blackrod were then restricted to 123-8.

Chatburn’s dismissal for 65 was largely due to Dhanushka Lakhan’s 4-24, Brinscall then going on to win by five wickets despite Michael Wright’s 4-26.

Raj Pushparajah recorded figures of 5-50 in Earby’s 153.

Kearsley won a close match by two wickets, thanks to Ayyan Mehmood’s half-century, Jason Lockley with 5-57.

Three other players with 50-plus were Feniscowles Mark McGovern and Joe Callaghan and Barrowford seconds’ Arsalaan Ali during Feniscowles comfortable victory. Hamid Bushy took 4-54 and Syed Shah had figures of 5-20.

Ehteasham Ali and Mitchell Ferguson shared all 10 wickets equally as Tonge were bowled out for 97.

Ali then rescued Whalley from 36-5, with 42 runs in their four-wicket victory, Rob Tully taking 5-45.