Farnworth Social Circle’s Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premiership title hopes diminished after a 39-run loss against Barrowford firsts, as Farnworth and Little Lever gained maximum points last weekend.

Barrowford batted first and were dismissed for 161, which was largely thanks to a fantastic 100 by Ehsan Ali as Keane Mulligan took 4-26. Social Circle were then bowled out for 122 after Ulfat Ali took 5-31.

Little Lever won in a close encounter as they visited Burnley Belvedere seconds. The hosts scored 166 all out ,with Amir Abbas top-scoring with 44 after Louis Partington took 5-34. Despite Aadil Hussain taking 5-47, Little Lever won the game being eight wickets down after Jack Barlow scored an unbeaten 73, which was complemented with a 43 from Leon Tennant.

Farnworth gained maximum points as they visited Cherry Tree. The hosts were dismissed for a dismal 55 after Zahid Butt took 5-9. Despite a very good three overs from Alex Fenwick (4-17), Farnworth won by six wickets after seven overs.

Ribblesdale Wanderers increased their chances of staying in the division after a victory against 10th-placed, Astley Bridge. Ribblesdale were bowled out for 152, with Stewart Trotter top-scoring with 37. In reply, Astley Bridge were dismissed for 83 after George Kerr took 5-25.

The highest score of the day came at Ribchester Road as Salesbury hosted Read. The latter scored 206-8, with Elliot Lowes scoring an unbeaten 116, despite Harvey Vause taking 4-46. Read then bowled Salesbury out for 87.

In the second division, Padiham are top with 147 points from 15 matches, followed by Burnley Belvedere (146) and Walkden (144), both having played one fewer than Padiham. Mehran Anwar hit a century and Imran Ali 60 in Walkden’s 287-7, then Ali took 4-39 as Baxenden were bowled out for 152, Ryan Pearson hitting 60.

Eagley dismissed Atherton for 127, then fell 46 runs short with Tom Mather taking 3-4 and Wayne Cook 3-24.

There was a half-century for Adeel Ahmed in Oswaldtwistle Immanuel’s 162, Jabbran Sajjad with 4-30 for Foulridge seconds, who recovered from 77-5 without losing a further wicket, Tim Barnes (52) and Imran Qamar (49) in the runs.

Kearsley reached 118, having been 19-5, Sajan Muthanna taking 5-32 and Dhanushka Lakshan 4-24. Lakshan’s 46 then helped steer Brinscall to a seven-wicket victory.

Darren Parr’s 7-23 helped dismiss Chatburn for 73, but this was still twice as many as Lostock could muster, Chris Mulhearn taking 4-9 and Michael Wright 4-19.

Harris Hussain recorded figures of 3-14 and Jack Smith 4-29 in Barnoldswick’s 118, then Smith completed a good all-round performance with 47 runs in Tonge’s six-wicket win.

Haider Hussain was Feniscowles leading bowler with 3-16 in Whalley’s 108-8, his side winning a close match by three wickets.

In the Ramsbottom Cup final, Scott Mather (54) and Rizwan Pervez (42) lead the way in Farnworth’s 165. Dominic Heyes took 3-24 for Read, who after the interval slipped to 40-7, ending the game on 96, thanks mainly to Oliver Watson’s 34. Zahid Butt was the pick of the Farnworth bowlers with 3-23.

It was a much closer affair in the Lawrenson Cup final. Toby Furbush’s century providing the backbone of Salesbury’s 205-7, but he was given valuable assistance at 112-5 with Jack Stones contributing 31 not out. Barrowford won the match with eight wickets down, Imran Karim (55), Ehsan Ali (36) and Jahangir Baba (35) their best scorers. Harvey Vause and Jack Stones had kept Salesbury in the game with three wickets apiece.