Walkden march on as Egerton reel

6:10am Monday 25th August 2008

EGERTON’s hopes of winning the Bolton League title are fading fast after they crashed to another defeat.

The north Bolton side were at one point three wins ahead of their rivals, but after suffering four defeats in recent weeks, the top of the table has been turned on its head, with champions Walkden now in the driving seat.

After a shaky start, Mike Bennision's boys have been consistency personified and while Egerton were “cracking up” at Horwich on Saturday, the skipper guided his side to another win.

Walkden dismissed struggling Kearsley for 88 with Liam Jackson in the wickets again with 4-11. In reply, Bennision was 30 not out as his side cruised home by five wickets.

Egerton, meanwhile, had a disaster at Horwich, where they were restricted to just 129-8 after the influential Stuart Hornby had gone first ball. Horwich were set a revised target because of the rain, which they reached without the loss of a wicket, with Jadhav unbeaten on 59 and James Reynard 44.

Greenmount found their winning form after a lean time with a 78-run victory at Little Lever, who they dismissed for 106, thanks to Baig’s seven-wicket haul. Jon Ashworth had earlier hit 67 in their 184-7 total.

Phil Dickinson grabbed seven wickets for 70 runs against Westhoughton but it was not enough to see Bradshaw home.

Westhoughton were dismissed for 201 with Steve Parker top scorer on 54. In reply, Bradshaw had reached 92-3 after 31 overs when the rains came, and that was not fast enough for the required run rate.

Farnworth crashed to a paltry 50 all out, to give Astley Bridge a comfortable eight-wicket win, while at Eagley the home side suffered with the rain after they had reached 154.

Tonge, who had struggled to 89-8 managed to hold it together to reach ther revised target without the loss of more wickets. Adam Street was man-of-the-match with five wickets and 29 runs, while skipper Nigel Partington remained unbeaten on 24 to see his side home.

Farnworth Social Circle continued in good form with the bat as Chris Barrow hit 71 and Shantha Kalavitigoda 57 as they reached 234. Heaton, despite a brave effort, fell short of their revised total, ending on 169-4.