WOODBANK and Prestwich fell to narrow defeats in the latest round of action in the Greater Manchester Cricket League Premier Division.

The former went down by six runs against Moorside, who posted 147-7 batting first.

Woodbank were always behind the scoring rate, needing 17 from the last over which ultimately proved too many.

Prestwich fell to a seven-run loss against defending champions Denton St Lawrence in their first defeat of the season.

Sitting on 125-8 chasing 136 to win, Prestwich looked to be favourites in a second innings in which momentum had swung between the two sides.

However, two wickets for Neil Hornbuckle meant Prestwich came up short.

In Premier 2, Walshaw held on to defend 131 against Monton, who fell only 11 short of victory, Shahrukh Khan and Deswin Currency both taking four wickets.

There were heavy defeats for both Bury and Stand though.

Leicestershire’s Harry Dearden scored 97 and took 4-35 as Bury went down to a 145-run defeat at Glossop.

Stand were bowled out for 84 as they lost by 120 runs at Denton West.

In the Championship, Brooksbottom knocked Heaton off top spot with an 81-run win that saw Mohsin Iqbal score 102 and take four wickets.

Elton were the beneficiaries, moving to the summit after bowling out Friarmere for 58 in a 100-run win.

Edenfield went down to a two-wicket defeat at home to Whalley Range.

Paul Hewart led the way with 6-49 as East Lancs Paper Mill dismissed Daisy Hill for 109 in their Division 2A clash.

Louis Birmingham also took 4-59 before Mark Robinson, 40, top scored in reply to help his side to a six-wicket win.

Tottington went down to a 99-run defeat at Deane and Derby.

The hosts posted 166-8 with the visitors then all out for just 67.

Elsewhere, Ramsbottom’s patchy early-season form in Lancashire League Division One continued with a five-wicket defeat against Darwen.

Rammy were all out for 97 with with Dave Bowden picking up a ‘five-for’ – eventually finishing with figures of 5-25 from his 13 overs – including the vital wickets of professional Daryn Smit (15) and Harry Caton who top scored with 33.

Sub professional Hasnain Abbas was the mainstay of the Darwen reply, scoring 36.

Jacob Clarke took 3-28 and paid man Smit 2-43.

Rammy are however through to the second round of the Lancashire Knockout Cup after run-rate secured victory over Formby in a rain-affected game.

Kieran Grimshaw top scored with 59 in Ramsbottom’s total of 167 all out. Formby were 29-2 after eight overs before the tie was halted.

They will travel to Prestwich in round two on June 13 after the GMCL outfit progressed against Northern League Garstang.

Also in the Lancashire League, Greenmount saw their game against Nelson abandoned.

Nelson’s paid man Usman Tariq top scored with 63 and Russell Bradley added a quick-fire 60 in an impressive total of 210-6 as Greenmount did not get the chance to bat due to the wet weather.

Skipper Ryan Senior impressed with the ball, taking 4-69.