Anthony Axford NWCL Conference Round-Up 2024
By Ray Taylor & Coby Donnelly
On the penultimate weekend of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premiership, Cherry Tree defeated Foulridge 1sts by 4 Wickets. Despite losing the game, Foulridge’s skipper, Shahbaz Munir was the MVP, scoring 32 and taking 3-33.
Following on from their league win, Farnworth had a comprehensive victory as they hosted Read. Bilal Khan top-scored for the hosts, scoring 122, which was complemented by a 47 from Rizwan Pervez. The league’s leading wicket taker, Mehr Khan took another 5fer (5-32).
Salesbury won in a close encounter as they visited Farnworth Social Circle. Andrew Watering took 5-37 for the hosts in bowling Salesbury out for 161. In response, Social Circle was dismissed for 130 with David Tonge top-scoring with 46. Salesbury’s Harvey Vause took 5-25.
Already relegated, Astley Bridge won as they visited Little Lever. Captain, Ady Cooper top-scoring for the visitors, scoring 57 in their 161 all out. Bridge’s Rami Patel took 6-36 in bowling Little Lever out for 109.
Ribblesdale Wanderers and Barrowford 1sts also played, however the result is currently unknown.
Advancing to the league tables, all teams have played 19 games with the exception of Read who has played 20. The aforementioned Ribblesdale and Barrowford have played 18.
Farnworth led the way with 188 points, and they are followed by 3 teams who are joint on 151 points; Social Circle, Little Lever, and Read. Salesbury sit on 149 points in 5th, Cherry Tree are 6th with 129 points, Barrowford are 7th with 123 points, and Burnley Belvedere are 8th with 119 points.
Astley Bridge (9th) and Foulridge (11th) are already relegated. Ribblesdale Wanderers sit in 10th place with 99 points, with last weekend’s result currently unknown.
The two promotion places are still between Padiham (171 points), Walkden 168 and Burnley Beldevere (163), with all three in action this weekend. Earby, Feniscowles, Chatburn, Earby, Tonge, Barrowford seconds, Whalley, Atherton and Foulridge seconds will all begin 2025 in the third tier. They will be joined by Kearsley or Brinscall, with the former requiring four points on Saturday.
On Saturday Feniscowles smashed 339, with Stuart Heather (97 from 28 deliveries) and Matthew Caddick putting on 137 together. Foulridge were then dismissed for 44, Marc Brennan 5-11 and Mahmood Chaudhry 4-28.
Ansar Mahmood took 3-17 as Earby were bowled out for 103. He than added eighty runs along with Umar Mudassar to steer Barrowford to a seven wicket win.
Imran Ali was responsible for over half Walkden’s runs, scoring 64 out of their 126. Kishan Ram took 4-24 for Lostock and Darren Parr 3-23. Ali then took 3-28 and Mehran Anwar 6-25 to reduce Lostock to 80 all out.
Chatburn collapsed from 48-0 to 90 all out, Mohammad Azmat with 4-19. Barnoldswick appeared to be coasting to victory at 76-4, but lost three wickets without adding another run, however they went on to win by three wickets.
Farnworth CC winners of the Conference Prem 2024
