Martin Eccles believes he’s captaining one of Eagley’s best bowling attacks in the last two decades and reckons they can catch runaway Premiership leaders Little Lever in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League.

“If we carry the way we are, it’s hard to say ‘No’ given the performances we’ve had,” said Eccles of his side’s title chances after winning at struggling Brinscall on Saturday – by seven wickets chasing 131.

Eagley are third with six wins from nine, 19 points behind Little Lever with them still to play at home next month.

“I’ve played at Eagley for 20 years and have been fortunate enough to play with some really good bowlers – Steve Foster and Phil Ingram are two,” continued Eccles.

“But, in terms of the bowling unit we have now, it’s unbelievable. It’s up there with the best in my time.

“There’s seven bowlers who I have no issue throwing the ball to in any situation. There’s lads in this game who didn’t get a bowl who’ve been bowling really well.”

The Eagles are flying having won nine of their last 11 matches in all competitions.

This one was achieved through Pakistani professional Ayaz Tasawar’s outstanding all-round contribution.

He claimed 5-30 from 13.4 overs of leg-spin as Brinscall, whose pro Jon Hinrichsen was given out obstructing the field for 26, were bowled out for 130 at School Lane having elected to bat.

Left-handed Tasawar then steered the chase from 14-3 with a measured unbeaten 55 off 82 balls, sharing an unbroken 117 with Will Shuttleworth (41).

“Ayaz (502 runs and 34 wickets in all cricket) is a great player,” said Eccles.

“We knew about him having played at Westhoughton last season.

“We were very keen to get a good pro this year because we have a talented group of young lads who just need that guidance. He can perform week in and week out, and they can play around him.

“It’s good to know from 12-2, we have him coming in. I felt really confident.

“You’re heavily reliant on your pro. All clubs are, really. But the beauty of this season is that the other lads are chipping in. It’s somebody different every week.

“Will Shutt here with a great 40-odd, a couple of weeks ago we had Oscar Smith at 16 putting on a hundred partnership with the pro. Harvey Seigne has also been doing well.”

A feature of Eagley’s cricket this year has been their ability to bowl well and then chase lowish totals.

“No one has got away from us when we’ve bowled first,” said Eccles, before talking specifically about the Brinscall chase.

“If we’d been on a losing streak, at 14-3 you’d maybe think, ‘Oh no, we’re here again’. But confidence is flowing, and we’re playing fearless cricket.”

Amidst praising a number of youngsters, Eccles picked out 15-year-old left-arm spinner Luca Doyle, who has claimed 14 league wickets, though none in seven overs on Saturday: “His attitude is fantastic. He’s so calm, and he knows his game inside and out,” he said.

This is Eccles’ first season in charge, and he’s loving it.

“I’m 42, and captaincy was something I wanted to do before I hang them up,” he added. “The opportunity came up this year, and I’ve picked one of the better seasons to do it!”

Professionals Asad Shafiq and Jameel Stuart hit centuries and claimed four wickets to help Read and Farnworth Social Circle claim eye-catching home wins, while lowly Baxenden ended an eight-game losing streak by shocking Tonge in Saturday’s Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Premiership.

Second-bottom Baxenden’s first win came by 15 runs at home to mid-table Tonge.

Victory came as wicketkeeper-opener Ben Hall’s 46 led a number of solid contributions in 180-6 from 45 overs before Jake Hargreaves, Matthew Austin and Adam Masood claimed three wickets to bowl Tonge out for 165.

It means Walkden are the only winless side after nine rounds having been beaten at home by Kearsley. South African pro Jono Bird’s busy 97 led mid-table Kearsley to 212 all out before Walkden replied with 190-9.

Read’s ex-Pakistan Test batting sub pro Shafiq hit 103 not out off 82 balls against Settle (273-8) to ensure the mid-table side’s fifth win.

Shafiq, who also claimed 4-83 from 15 overs, shared an unbroken 137 inside just 12 overs with Joe Halstead – 68 off 34 – as Read advanced from 138-3 to win by seven wickets inside 36 overs.

Social Circle racked up 306-5 in a 121-run win over Barnoldswick (185 all out), their first of two weekend games.

Bajan Stuart crashed a brutal 106 not out off 50 balls and claimed 4-27 from five overs. Social Circle also won for the fifth time but are sixth compared to Read’s 11th.

On Sunday, Social Circle’s 10th game at Salesbury was rained off with them 10-0 chasing 119.

Second-placed Ribblesdale Wanderers chased 196 to beat Atherton by eight wickets inside 35 overs on Saturday. Home captain and opener Mack Spencer and pro Anuj Jotin impressed with 66 not out and 58 not out.

Wanderers’ (90 points) eighth win keeps them in touch with relentless leaders Little Lever (102 points).

They hammered Oswaldtwistle Immanuel by 10 wickets chasing 74 to win their ninth successive game. Curtis Anderton claimed 6-26 from 15 overs, while Indian overseas amateur Nipun Gaikwad added three wickets and 29.

Third-placed Eagley won our featured game at Brinscall, while Farnworth and Padiham – fourth and fifth – also won for the sixth time.

Hosts Farnworth replied to Salesbury’s 203-9, winning by five wickets.

Sri Lankan pro Milinda Siriwardana hit a fabulous unbeaten best of the round 131 off 111 balls having earlier taken three wickets.

Padiham survived a scare at Lostock, recovering from 26-4 chasing 118.

Zander van Tonder claimed three wickets and hit a run-a-ball 37, sharing an unbroken 93 with fifth-wicket partner Max Seedall. His 52 off 39 was his first Padiham fifty.

Visitors Astley Bridge brushed Whalley aside by nine wickets for their fifth win.

David Cryer starred with a new ball 3-37 from 11 overs to bowl Whalley out for 89.

Bridge are well placed for a top 12 finish in eighth, as are Blackrod in ninth having beaten Cherry Tree by 52 runs.

Visitors Blackrod posted 194 all out thanks to wicketkeeper Zak Burton’s lower middle order 65 off 64 balls. Thushendra De Zoysa then claimed 5-37 from 13.4 overs to bowl Cherry Tree out for 142.

Earby (15th) are chasing the same goal having beaten Feniscowles at home by one wicket chasing a revised 167 target in 41 overs.

South African pro Rubin Hermann’s 4-38 from 9.4 overs helped bowl Feniscowles out for 161 before Iain Clarkson and Joseph Robinson, who hit the winning runs with three balls remaining, shared 20 for the last wicket.

Sunday’s abandonment between Salesbury (118 all out) and Social Circle was the first of the round of matches due to be played in April to begin the season. That round was put back due to wet weather. All other fixtures will be played this coming Sunday.