Hamer Cup champions Read got their title defence up and running with a 23-run first round victory at Farnworth on Sunday, successfully defending their 195 all out total.

Read’s victory came courtesy of Sri Lankan professional Sehan Weerasinghe’s measured 49 before Chris Holt stood out in the defence with 4-32 from eight overs as Farnworth were bowled out for 172, recovering from 89-8.

Chris Baxendale top-scored with 61 and shared a ninth-wicket stand of 55 with Kian Rogerson (32) to give Read a scare. But the former was last man out in the 38th over of 40. 

That was one of six Round One fixtures on Sunday in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s flagship cup competition. 

There were also victories for Astley Bridge, Atherton, Earby, Farnworth Social Circle and Ribblesdale Wanderers, who all advanced to the second round on June 1 when the 10 teams who received byes enter the fold. 

Championship side Astley Bridge, Hamer Cup champions in 2022 in the old Bolton League, knocked out Kearsley of the Premiership, winning by 83 runs at home. 

Dhanushka Dhamasiri, Bridge’s Sri Lankan pro, top-scored with 80 off 66 balls in a 281-9 total also including 72 off 65 for captain Syd De Silva and 61 off only 22 from South African overseas amateur Ulli Bronkhorst.

Bronkhorst crashed eight fours and four sixes after Dhamasiri and De Silva had shared a third-wicket partnership of 109. 

In their defence, which saw Kearsley bowled out for 198, Bronkhorst capped off his good day with two wickets. Irfan Puda claimed three. 

In an all Championship battle, Ribblesdale Wanderers beat current league leaders Barnoldswick by 26 runs having posted a commanding 226 all out which included a superb, well-paced 112 not out from 98 balls for Sri Lankan pro Heshan Dhanushka.

That included 15 fours and three sixes before he claimed the winning wicket as visitors Barnoldswick were bowled out for 200 in the final over of their chase.

Waqar Rafique was Ribblesdale’s standout bowler with 5-26 from seven overs.

While there was defeat for Farnworth against Read, just down the road Farnworth Social Circle beat Whalley by a whopping 207 runs.

Premiership side Social Circle racked up a mammoth 334-8 from their 40 overs thanks to Bajan pro Jameel Stuart’s 147 off 101 balls with 17 fours and six sixes.

Stuart came in with the score at 2-2 and departed with it at 262-5. He shared 154 for the fifth wicket with David Tonge, who also chipped in with three sixes in 56.

Championship side Whalley were then bowled out for 127 inside 31 overs, with Basil Sultan claiming 4-16 from 3.5 overs.

In an all Premiership tie, hosts Atherton beat Eagley by 30 runs.

Atherton’s 163 all out including a measured opening 60 from Oliver Gredecki before Atiq Shah took the new ball and was excellent in defence with 4-13 from eight overs as Eagley were bowled out for 133. Zeeshan Alsam also struck three times.

And finally, Earby won an all Championship thriller at home to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel by two wickets chasing 106 – a fixture which added weight to the age-old theory that low-scoring games are always the best.

Oswaldtwistle were bowled out for 105 as South African OA Jared Bone claimed a superb 4-16 from eight overs before he opened the batting and top-scored with 27 in a reply which collapsed from 46-0 to 92-8. 

Hamer Cup, Round 2 – Sunday June 1: Astley Bridge v Little Lever, Blackrod v Atherton, Tonge v Baxenden, Farnworth Social Circle v Read, Salesbury v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Cherry Tree v Padiham, Lostock v Earby, Brinscall v Walkden.