Baxenden openers Mitch Slattery and Ben Gorton both hit brilliant centuries in a partnership of 269 as their side thumped Walkden by 171 runs in the Championship division of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League.

Bash racked up 387-4 from their 45 overs – the highest first-team total in the three-year history of the NWCL – to claim their second win in four in the second tier, thanks largely to Slattery’s 118 off 97 balls and Gorton’s 164 off 116. 

While Western Australian overseas amateur Slattery hoisted four sixes, local  professional Gorton crashed an incredible 30 fours. The pair united for 31.1 overs, also the highest ever opening stand in NWCL history. 

In reply, winless Walkden were all out for 216, with Matthew Austin taking the new ball and striking three times. Slattery also struck twice to cap a memorable day.

There was plenty of batting success across the Premiership and Championship on Saturday.

Read are the new Premiership leaders having won their fourth successive game, this one away at Farnworth Social Circle by 84 runs having posted 284-4. Openers Will Wrathall (55) and Chris Holt with an excellent 106 shared 140 in a top-of-the-table battle.

Social Circle’s first defeat in four was confirmed as South African OA Zadian Muller and Sri Lankan pro Sehan Weerasinghe claimed three wickets each in 200 all out. Holt also struck twice.

Championship duo Barnoldswick and Astley Bridge lead the way with four wins from four. 

Hosts Barnoldswick beat Oswaldtwistle Immanuel (124 all out) by 81 runs in defence of 205-8. Majid Inayat top-scored with a middle order run-a-ball 56 before St Vincent OA Deron Greaves continued his impressive start to the season with five wickets.

Whalley pro Levi Wolfenden’s superb 108 and two wickets went unrewarded as Bridge recovered from 179-7. Captain Syd de Silva top-scored with 49 for the hosts.

Salesbury beat Lostock (184 all out) by nine wickets at home. After Chris Boardman took the new ball and returned four wickets, second-wicket pair Pete Richardson (57 not out) and South African pro Garnett Tarr shared an unbroken 160 to seal victory.

Tarr lead the way with a brutal 109 off 79 balls.

Tonge claimed their third win from four, winning at bottom side Eagley by 68 runs. 

Sri Lankan pro Hashan Dumindu top-scored with 88 off 109 balls in Tonge’s 205-8 before he claimed three wickets and Alex Rodzoch four in the hosts’ 137-9 response.

Champions Blackrod won their second game and inflicted a fourth successive defeat on Farnworth, who were all out for 177 chasing 198 on the road.

Sri Lankan pro Navod Paranavithana opened up and top-scored with 67 in Blackrod’s 197-8 before his left-arm spinners returned 5-60 in a successful defence.

Kearsley’s second win came at the expense of hosts Atherton, who posted 190-6 in response to 208-8. Soham Panvalkar top-scored with 65 for Kearsley before Mustafa Bashir took the new ball and struck three times.

Home side Padiham have the same won two, lost two record as Little Lever, who they beat by 93 runs.

Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Turner top-scored with a quick-fire middle order 66 in 258-9 before he struck three times in support of a captain Toby Burrows’ four-for in Little Lever’s 165 all out. 

In the Championship, Earby beat Ribblesdale Wanderers by nine wickets having bowled their visitors out for 127. Earby’s first win was achieved on the back of South African OA Jared Bone’s superb all-round display of 5-26 and 52 not out opening the batting.

Tonge have started the new season with a bang – but captain Connor Lord believes there is more to come from his side as they challenge towards the top of the Premiership table in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League.

Tonge won a local derby away at Eagley on Saturday by 68 runs, their third win from four so far. 

Sri Lankan professional Hashan Dumindu stood out with 88 not out in 205-8 before he took the new ball and claimed three wickets with his off-spin in Eagley’s 137-9. 

All-rounder Alex Rodzoch, who returned to the club over the winter from Farnworth, struck four times against an Eagley side who are bottom of the table with one win in four so far in 2025.

Lord’s Tonge (30 points) now sit fourth in the top-flight table, 14 points adrift of leaders Read. 

“It was a very good win,” said seamer Lord. 

“I think we make it hard for ourselves sometimes away at Eagley. We’ve had a couple of wins here and there, but last year I think it was second to last game and we couldn’t chase 70 or 80-odd against them. 

“So it was a big win for us against a local rival, but on the other hand there’s also parts of our game as a team and individually that we need to improve on even though we’re picking up wins.”

One of those areas Lord pinpointed was their fielding, while you look at Saturday and see that from 101-2 in the 27th over, they only posted 205-8. And that came after they were 146-8.

However, they are winning matches, which is the most important thing.

“If you’re struggling in certain areas and losing, you end up scratching around,” continued the skipper, who claimed one wicket on Saturday. 

“But if you’re picking up wins and you still know where you need to improve as a team, then it’s something you can work on from a position of strength.”

Lord described the return of Rodzoch to Castle Hill as “massive”, and it’s good to see the club thriving again after a difficult period approximately a decade ago when they were struggling at the foot of the Bolton League.

“Obviously, on the pitch and off the pitch, with his experience, he’s brilliant for us,” said the skipper. “We want Alex to get us runs at the top order, which he has done in a few of the games, and he’s very handy with the ball as well.

“Over the last 8-10 years, we’ve strengthened the club back up, and we’ve sort of built on it each year as well. 

“Keeping Hashan with us has been a big thing. It’s his fourth season with us. Getting Justin (Gilliland, South African overseas amateur) back this year too. They’re two really, really good lads as well as very good cricketers.

“But all of the lads want to play for this club. 

“Anyone who’s doing well gets interest from other clubs, but they 100 percent want to play for Tonge.”

So what about aims for 2025. Is a top four position where Lord and Tonge expected to be at this stage before a ball was bowled back in mid-April?

“Last year, we finished sixth and fell off a bit towards the end,” added Lord.

“So I think the next step for us would be to push for that top four, which would guarantee us a spot in the Lancs Knockout.