Egerton set to hand Walkden title after slip

1:20am Tuesday 26th August 2008

WALKDEN could wrap up the Bolton League title next weekend after their rivals for the title crashed to a double defeat.

Egerton have been flying high for the majority of the season, but their good form has deserted them of late and two more defeats have almost certainly handed the title to the reigning champions.

The two sides meet on Saturday where the north Bolton outfit have one last chance to upset Mike Bennision’s men.

But even if they win, it would appear their championship chances have all but disappeared.

Astley Bridge should have dented Walkden’s momentum on Sunday when they dismissed the visitors for only 128 with Pranuka Liyanage taking five wickets.

In reply, Bridge started well, but the middle order threw their wickets away before Will Halton and Craig Haslam batted sensibly, but not long enough, and they fell just 21 runs short of victory.

Egerton, who have re-signed talented professional Sajith Fernando for next season, came unstuck at home to Farnworth.

Egerton reached 187 with Tom Fairclough top scorer on 52, and the professional 37. Farnworth’s middle order delivered the goods with Paul Rayment (42) and David Tonge (75) seeing their side home by three wickets.

In contrast, Farnworth Social Circle have had a terrific finish to the season and they maintained the run with a convincing 42-run win over Horwich. Circle reached 172 with Matt Parkinson out for 52 as Rakeb Mahmood grabbed five wickets. Horwich pro Jadhav hit 53 but, apart from Grant Long’s 33, there was little else to trouble the scorers.

Greenmount proved too strong for bottom club Heaton, coasting home by 42 runs.

Zaidi hammered 69 out of their 217 total, before Heaton struggled to 176-7, as veteran Warwick Milne showed he had not lost his touch with an unbeaten 62.

Westhoughton managed to stem the threat of Bolton League pace duo Steve Foster and Phil Ingram to post 224-6 against Eagley, with Mark Atherton smashing 56. Eagley’s batting once again let them down as they were dismissed for 177 despite the best efforts of Mark Ward who battled to 92.

Kearsley returned to winning ways with an eight-wicket demolition of Bradshaw who were all out for 98 with Hinds and Sainsbury sharing the wickets.

Tonge got the better of Little Lever by three wickets after they restricted them to 146-7. Pro Wethathsinghe top scored with 59 and gained enough support from Matt Fray, who hit 31, to ensure victory.