By Ray Taylor
Several games were affected by the weather on the last weekend of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League final weekend, some washed out completely, and others playing reduced overs.
In the Premier division, Walkden are champions, Barrowford runners up and Cherry Tree and Farnworth relegated. A Mahmood (64) and I Imdad (64) put on 122 in Barrowford’s 200-9. Salesbury were handily placed at 91-4 but four wickets for A Waheed helped dismiss them for 140.
Ribblesdale Wanderers had escaped relegation by the interval, courtesy of the two points obtained for bowling Little Lever out. Lever recovered from 15-3 to reach 189, Joe Whitehead 72 from 34 balls. Wanderers also had to stage a comeback, from 57-4 to win off the last ball with two wickets in hand. Top scorer was Kashif Chaudry with a half century.
D Lord’s 5-34 helped pull Farnworth Social Circle back from 118-3 to 159 all out, but this was in vain as M Suhail’s 5-25 was largely responsible for Cherry Tree only mustering 53.
In the second division, Feniscowles are champions and Atherton promoted with them. Barnoldswick and Eagley relegated. Wayne Cook had 5-35 in Baxenden’s 110, Atherton’s opening batsman Dale Tryer then hitting 59 not out as his team won by four wickets, despite losing three wickets for two runs late in the innings.
Feniscowles beat Brinscall by nine wickets chasing 101, Lostock defeated Astley Bridge by two wickets having been set 155 to win, and the match at Burnley Belvedere was abandoned with the home side 134 against Blackrod.
Third division champions are Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, and joining them in the second division next season will be Kearsley. Zameer Hussain took 4-20 in Barrowford’s 93, and Immanuel seemed to be coasting at 75-4, but lost six wickets for four runs to bowlers Hamza Jutt (3-15) and Usman Ali (3-12).
Kearsley won by eight wickets after Foulridge had made 91.
J Swarbrick contributed 72 towards Earby’s 215-5, then S Ganesh recorded a half century in Feniscowles 115.
On a person note, this completes my 50th year reporting on local cricket for the Bolton Evening News / Bolton News, with reports also for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Bolton Chronicle and Manchester Evening News.
