NWCL Conference Divisions Week 5 by Ray Taylor

Read lead the way in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premier Division with 49 points from 6 games, followed by Walkden with 43 from five.
On a day when several matches were affected by the weather, Oliver Dinning contributed 126 to Read’s 302-9. Farnworth’s response of 260 owed a lot to a last wicket partnership of 88, M Khalil coming in at ten and making 87.
Seventy runs for Aashif Ghantiwala and 60 for Hirza Sudhail  helped Farnworth Social Circle recover from 92-6 to reach 220. Walkden were 126-8, but Mehan Anwar and Sajid Mahmood steered them to a two wicket win.
Jack Fielding had 4-30 in Cherry Tree’s 167-6, then Harry Stevenson with 5-26 helped dismiss Ribblesdale Wanderers for 131.
Chasing Salesbury’s 208-6 (D Rawson 72, E Salt 65 and A Anwar 4-34), S Pushpakaran helped Foulridge to 168-3, but they were only able to muster a further 16 runs, the last four wickets falling for two runs, E Salt 3-21, D Rawson 3-25.
In the second division, Atherton have 41 points from 5 and Padiham 39. Atherton’s 130-9 (M Khan 3-18) proved to be 12 too many for Burnley Belvedere with F Shah taking 4-30 and I Nuttall 4-51.
Chasing Barnoldswick’s 113, Hafeez Ul Wakas 52, Darren Parr 4-51, Lostock won by seven wickets, Amit Dashore 63 not out.
On Sunday there were four wickets for Ady Cooper in Astley Bridge’s eight wicket win against Blackrod, and a similar number for H Nazir in Feniscowles six wicket victory at Barnoldswick. There were half centuries for Kevin Hitchon and Finlay Best as Brinscall defeated Padiham. Haider Ali contributed a half century in Baxenden’s 95, Uzair Ahmed 5-20, but Majid Khan coming in at eight for Burnley Belvedere made 58 not out taking Burnley Belvedere to a one wicket win, Evan Pinder 5-24.
Earby lead the third division with 60 points from five matches. K Mara struck 57 in their 224, with K Ishfaq taking 5-44 for Foulridge seconds who were then bowled out for 141, D Harrison 4-48.
A Ahmed took 4-20 as Oswaldtwistle Immanuel totalled 155. Feniscowles chased down a reduced total to win by four wickets.