Greenmount fell to an eight-run defeat at Astley Bridge on Saturday.

The hosts were bowled out for 122, as Greenmount’s Mark Stewart ripped through their batting line-up with 6-39.

But Astley Bridge pro Syd De Silva, who top scored with 24, showed his class with the ball to take 4-28, while David Cryer went one better with 5-55 as the visitors were bowled out for 114.

Elsewhere, league leaders Farnworth Social Circle extended their unbeaten record and inflicted Bradshaw’s first defeat of the season as they won the battle of the top two by 76 runs at Rigby’s Lane.

A third-wicket partnership of 111 between Rameez Alam (66) and Josh Bohannon (44) proved to be the deciding factor for Matt Parkinson’s side.

The pair came together with Social Circle teetering on 48-2 but helped lay a foundation for the visitors, who eventually finished on 247-8, despite an excellent spell of 5-49 by Bradshaw’s top bowler Mohamed Jameel.

Bradshaw’s reply never really got going after they lost their first wicket – Bradley Yates – with just six runs on the board.

A fifth-wicket stand of 67 between Gary Garner (36) and Nick Lester (52) gave them some hope but Bradshaw’s resistance ebbed away after they were dismissed and they were all out for 171. Social Circle’s Liam Bones, with 3-46, and Bohannon, with 3-23, were the pick of their bowlers.

Adil Nisar was once again the star man for Farnworth as they bounced back from defeat at Astley Bridge to secure an eight-wicket victory at Eagley.

Westhoughton edged a tight match at fellow title contenders Egerton, passing their target of 190 with just nine balls to spare.

Little Lever’s chances of retaining their Bolton League crown look to be fading after they went down by five wickets at home to Kearsley – a fourth defeat in their opening six matches.

Tonge’s travails with the bat continued as the Bolton League’s bottom side fell to a 42-run defeat at home to Horwich.

Results: Astley Bridge 122 Greenmount 114, Astley Bridge won by 8 runs. Bradshaw 171 Farnworth SC 247-8, Farnworth SC won by 76 runs. Eagley 87 Farnworth 88-2, Farnworth won by 8 wkts. Egerton 190-6 Westhoughton 191-4, Westhoughton won by 6 wkts. Little Lever 122 Kearsley 123-5, Kearsley won by 5 wkts. Tonge 100 Horwich 142, Horwich won by 42 runs. Walkden 76 Heaton 200-8, Heaton won by 124 runs.