FINALS day in the Monarch Solicitors Bolton Cricket Development Group Under-11s Indoor League provided yet more entertainment as four teams, three from the Bolton League and one from the Bolton Association battled it out to see who would be crowned champions and take home the Barlow Trophy.

Bury were looking to be the first team from outside of Bolton to win the competition and as the only Bolton Association side remaining in the competition were carrying the hopes of their league.

Their opponents Eagley were looking to set up a repeat of the 2014 final where they were defeated by Bradshaw on the last ball.

This semi-final was to be an even closer affair than last year’s final with both sides tied on 234 after playing nine overs each. This meant that the finalist would be decided on fewest wickets lost. Unfortunately for Bury, Eagley progressed due to only losing one whereas the Radcliffe Road side had lost four.

Defending champions Bradshaw reached their second successive final by defeating local rivals Egerton in the first of the semi-finals at Smithills Sports Centre. Egerton batted first and lost five wickets as they posted a score of 224. Unfortunately for them they found Danny Morris and Cian Dickinson in continued good form with the bat as they both made 26 in the Bradshaw total of 283-2.

Bradshaw's bowlers were in excellent form in the final with Seb Schofield returning figures of 2-7 from his two overs as Eagley were restricted to 219-4 from their nine overs.

Needing 220 to retain the trophy, Schofield backed up his bowling display making 12 and Dickinson continued on from his innings in the semi-final with 16 as Bradshaw’s batsmen passed the required total and some to finish on 255-2 to become the first team to retain the Barlow Trophy, which was presented by Shazda Ahmed from Monarch Solicitors.