NWCL Conference Divisions Week 3 by Ray Taylor
Walkden lead the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference first division with 30 points, one ahead of Barrowford and Read.
On Saturday Rizwan Pervez made 68 of Walkden’s 109 all out, Shahbaz taking 5-19. Foulridge slipped to 18-4, a recovery took them to 102-8 but the last two wickets fell without a run being scored, Sajid Mahmood with 4-38 and Mohsin Rubbani 3-14.
A last wicket partnership of 19 lead Farnworth to 93, Abid Al Wahab taking 3-16, then Barrowford strolled to a seven wicket victory.
Nizam Vaid was the pick of the Read bowlers taking 4-14 as Salisbury totalled 94. Elliot Lowes with 53 not out steered Read to a nine wicket win. Chasing Burnley Belvedere’s 115, Farnworth Social Circles’ opener Grant Mason Platt hit a half century, but had little support and at one point FSC were 109-7. The only other batter to reach double figures Ibrahim Tabassum was the last man out with the scores tied.
In the second division Padiham are the only team with three wins from three, giving them 32 points, five ahead of Baxenden and seven in front of Atherton.
Danny Higham was Padiham’s leading scorer with 126 not out from 75 deliveries supported by half centuries from Cameron Thorne and Rhys Meehan, Muhammad Yahya with 4-63 for Burnley Belvedere. Belvedere were to finish 154 short of Padiham’s 291-8, Harsh Verma 4-17.
Mark Clegg (74) and Joe Ince (66) were the main contributors in Baxenden’s 267. Alfie Smethurst recording a half century in Blackrod’s 200-7.
After an opening partnership of 54, the Eagley batsmen could only find another 39 runs, F Shah 4-28. From 10-3 and 47-5 Atherton recovered to win by five wickets.
Ady Cooper gave Astley Bridge a sound start with 53, but from 141-4 they could only muster 175, Hafeez Ul Wahab 3-25. Wahab steered Barnoldswick to a six wicket win with 48 not out after Moazzam Basat became one of several players on the day to strike 53 runs.
Marc Brennan took 4-41 in Lostock’s 183, leading to a Feniscowles six wicket victory, Simon Turner (69) and James Jackson (50) had at one point taken the score to 171-1.
In the third division, Earby are the only team with maximum points, 36 from three matches, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel with 34 from the same number of games.
B Hall took 4-25 and A Hall 3-4 as Foulridge seconds were bowled out for 87, Earby overtaking this in eleven overs.
In a much closer game, S Perry lead the scoring with 55 in Chatburn’s 187, B Jameel 3-25. At 154-7 the game was in the balance but Oswaldtwistle hung on to win by one wicket despite Jamie Birtwistle-Jones taking 5-55.
Hamidullah Stanikzai coming in at eight smashed 141 from 70 deliveries for Kearsley. Earlier Mohshin Patel and Shahzeb Pervez had struck half centuries. The innings finished at 360, Charlie Lowe with a creditable 4-60 under the circumstances. 64 for Paul Slater helped Feniscowles to 153, Stanikzai and Patel rounding off all round performances with four wickets apiece.
Harry Naylor’s 5-23 and Syed Ahmed’s 3-20 helped restrict Barrowford to 104. Tonge were indebted to Rob Tully whose mid innings 47 not out took them to a three wicket win.
Ramsbottom Cup 2nd Round
Brinscall 2nd v Feniscowles 1st
Read 2nd v Padiham 2nd
Farnworth 2nd v Farnworth SC 2nd
Lostock 2nd v Ribblesdale Wanderers 2nd
Salesbury 2nd v Foulridge 1st
Atherton 2nd v Little Lever 2nd
Tonge 2nd v Earby 2nd
Eagley 2nd v Cherry Tree 2nd
Matches to be played on Sunday 24th May with a Reserve Date of Sunday 31st May 2026.
Ray Taylor
