CAPTAIN Andy Kerr was tickled pink on Saturday as his Greenmount side climbed to the top of the table following a hard fought victory against title rivals Farnworth.

In what was a first for the Bolton League, both clubs donned pink jersey’s to raise money for Bolton's and Bury's hospices.

The hosts raised more than £2,000 and sold over 50 replica shirts, and Kerr was bowled over by the success of the event.

"It was an excellent day," he said.

"It was nice to have our names on the shirts and do something a bit different for a good cause.

"Even though it was a league game it felt different to a normal fixture, but we tried not to let that distract us too much.

"We knew we had a job to do and luckily we come out on top."

Former Greenmount cricketer and ex-England international footballer Phil Neville was also in attendance to open a new scoreboard at the ground.

"He played his junior cricket at the club and he brought the crowds in," said Kerr.

"It was nice to see him back where he started. It set up the day nicely."

Despite moving four points clear at the top, Kerr is not taking his side's title hopes for granted as they head into a double header of away fixtures against reigning champions Farnworth Social Circle and Westhoughton this weekend.

However the skipper believes his table toppers are already showing the true mark of champions as they continue their bid for league glory.

"We are showing that we haven't just got one or two players who can contribute," he said.

"We have depth in our team which is what you need if you are going to push for the league title.

"But we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We are just taking one game at a time.

"We've got two tough games this week but we are playing well and I'd back us to win both."

It was Kerr who led by example against Farnworth opening up with 60 runs.

Phil Heaton followed suit with 40no and was joined by under-15s player and son Tom, who scored an impressive 35. Professional Travis Townsend added 35 as the hosts posted 250-6.

Adil Nisar (53) and Melbourne Austin (45) launched the response which teed up a tense finale where 18 runs were needed from the last over, but the superb bowling attack of Australian Josh Macey (5-71) and stalwart Mark Stewart (3-85) wrapped up the victory for Greenmount as the visitors fell 12 runs short of the target.

The Greenmount skipper was pleased with the overall performance, picking out youngster Tom Heaton for special praise after his 35 marked his top score for the first team.

"It was an outstanding team performance and a great game of cricket which you would expect from the top two sides," said Kerr.

"With more than 500 watching the charity game Tom has come in and played well.

"His performance really stood out for me.

"Stewart was his usual reliable self with the ball, while our 19-year-old overseas Macey also had a great game taking five wickets including the scalps of professional Kamran Sajid and Nisar."