WALSHAW kept pace with the Bolton Association league-leaders with a nine-wicket success at home to Little Hulton.

Although the championship is out of reach, Walshaw are on course to qualify for next season’s Lancashire Knockout competition if they can maintain their form.

The visitors were dismissed for 101, with Roger Kurmah top scoring on 19 as Danny Hornby took 3-31, Gavin Nichol 3-39 and Brandon Williams 2-11.

Hornby and Nichol came back to knock off the winning runs, hitting 58no and 24no, respectively, as Walshaw reached 105-1.

Meanwhile, neighbours Elton cruised to a comfortable 74-run win against Daisy Hill at Leigh Lane.

Mike Hall hit an unbeaten 75 and Chris Read 38 for the home side, before Daisy were dismissed for 158, Michael Chilton top scoring with 50, backed up by Paul Atherton’s 45. Mark Goddard was the pick of the Elton attack, taking 3-18, while Read took 3-52.

Bury beat home side Standish by 28 runs after scoring 130. David Bowden took 3-20 and then scored 51 in the Standish reply, but they were all out for 102, Lewis Jarvis taking 3-27.

Greenmount raced to a convincing win against Astley Bridge in the Bolton League with eight wickets to spare.

Bridge set a total of 202-8 as Andy Northrop (49) and Rick Northrop (45) played key roles, and Phil Heaton took 6-62.

Greenmount’s Andy Kerr was not out on 85 while he and Phil Ingram (66) enjoyed an opening partnership of 126 as the home side reached 203-2.

The following day, several local players featured in one of the most thrilling Anthony Axford Trophy matches ever as Bolton League beat their Bolton Association rivals by one run at Flixton. There were glittering performances from individuals on both sides as the Association chased the League’s total of 245-9. Farnworth’s Adil Nisar and Egerton’s Amal Athulathmudali scored 52 and 63, respectively, and Phil Ingram (Greenmount) shone lower down the order, hitting 76 and helping himself to nine fours and two sixes as his first 50 came in 31 balls. There was some tight bowling from the Association side, Atherton’s Jamar Griffith taking 3-48, Flixton’s Adrian Holmes 2-31, Walshaw’s Hornby 1-29 and Adlington’s Majid Majeed 1-26. Elton wicketkeeper Danny Lomax had a superb game, taking three catches and completing two stumpings, while his opposite number Danny Partington (Egerton) also took two catches and had two stumpings in the Association innings. Bolton Association’s reply did not go according to plan with star men Luke Perry (Flixton) and Jimmy Damjanovski (Atherton) missing out, each scoring only seven. It was left to Bury’s Simon Belston to hit 65, while Griffith hit 77, including five fours and five sixes. The League’s margin of victory looked on course to be greater when the Association were on 215-9. But a last-wicket stand between Lomax and Holmes gave the Association hope when just three runs were needed off the last over. Lomax was then caught out for nine going for a big hit, with three balls remaining leaving Holmes stranded as the not out batsman on 14 and the Association total on 244. Egerton’s Amal Dalugoda took 3-28, while League captain Phil Dickinson (Bradshaw) and Joe McCann (Kearsley) took two wickets each.