MARK Stewart is now just five wickets short of the all-time Bolton League record after taking four more victims in Greenmount's two-wicket win at Horwich on Saturday.

Greenmount remain four points clear of second-placed Farnworth at the top of the Bolton League after the latest round of fixtures.

Horwich pro Babar Naeem hit 84 but the combined bowling attack of Phil Heaton (4-40) and Mark Stewart (4-62) reduced them to 178 all out.

It now seems just a matter of time before Stewart, who has been in startling form for the Brandlesholme Road men this season, passes his target of 1,561 career wickets.

He could do that with a fifer in Greenmount's next match, at Kearsley on Saturday.

The league leaders came close to wasting the fine platform provided by Stewart and Heaton's exploits in the field last weekend.

Andrew Bowker hit a half-century and Daniel Keegan added 28 as they reached the target with only two wickets remaining.

Naeem (3-74) and Lewis Haydock (3-63) were the pick of the Horwich bowlers.

Old foes Farnworth remain in hot pursuit after Adil Nisar batted his way into his club's record books on Saturday with an unbeaten 160 against Little Lever.

His total was the highest first team score ever seen at Bridgeman Park from either an amateur or professional player.

Nisar’s superb batting performance overtook Sylvester Oliver’s long-standing record of 156.

Kamran Sajid (82no) and Chris Baxendale (37) were also in the runs as Farnworth set their visitors a mammoth target of 299-1.

Little Lever pro Zain Abbas led the response, hitting 60 not out but his side failed to provide sufficient backup and they were bowled out for 117 – Sajid (5-45) and Melbourne Austin (2-16) did the damage with the ball.

But the day belonged to Nisar, whose phenomenal effort has taken him past the 500-run mark this campaign.

Third-placed Egerton are just five points behind Greenmount, with both sides looking to claim the title in their final seasons in the Bolton League before moving on to the Greater Manchester League next season.

Amal Dalugoda starred with the bat in Egerton's routine victory over Tonge.

Professional Mahela Udawatte hit 66 and Dalugoda stuck 146 – the second highest score of the season behind Nisar – to post a total of 303-9. Dave Bath (4-109) and Mansoor Ahmed (3-139) were the only bowlers of note.

Ahmed turned his hand to the bat and stuck 34no in reply, but the superb bowling of Adam Street (4-50) and Will Halton (4-26) dismissed the league’s bottom side for 99.

Results

Astley Bridge 73, Bradshaw 245-8. Bradshaw won by 172 runs.

Eagley 133, Walkden 101. Eagley won by 32 runs.

Egerton 303-9, Tonge 99. Egerton won by 204 runs.

Farnworth 229-1, Little Lever 117. Farnworth won by 112 runs.

Farnworth Social Circle 148-8, Kearsley 146. Farnworth SC won by 2 wkts.

Greenmount 181-8, Horwich 178. Greenmount won by 2 wkts.

Westhoughton 81-7, Heaton 80. Westhoughton won by 3 wkts.