Bullen’s Bajan brilliance takes Atherton to summit

Some Bajan brilliance led Atherton to a third win in four games and top spot in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s Championship division on Saturday as Jamaine Bullen starred with 7-36 in a 47-run win at Cherry Tree.

Overseas amateur (OA) Bullen took the new ball and was the chief protagonist in bowling the hosts out for 105 as they replied to Atherton’s 152-9, which included a top score of 48 from ex-West Indies Test opener Shayne Moseley, the club’s professional who is also from Barbados.

Atherton are sat on 40 points after a month of the season, four clear of Baxenden and Brinscall, who won their third and second games, respectively.

In the Premiership, Salesbury (48 points) and Blackrod (46) lead the way having won four from four. They beat Ribblesdale Wanderers and Farnworth, respectively.

The match of the day saw Eagley claim their second Premiership win after beating hosts Lostock in a thriller by four wickets chasing 147 - and they had to recover from 41-6 to do it.

James Richards was their hero with an unbeaten 87, with seven sixes from number seven, dominating an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 107 with Luca Doyle.

The latter finished 12 not out having earlier taken two wickets in Lostock’s 146-9. Harvey Seigne was Eagley’s standout bowler with an excellent 6-20 from 11 overs.

Premiership leaders Salesbury claimed a landslide seven-wicket win away against a Wanderers side who they bowled out for just 69. Callum Boardman claimed three wickets before unbeaten opener Liam Parkinson top-scored with 32 in the chase.

Blackrod also won on the road, by four wickets against Farnworth (157 all out). Highly-rated young Sri Lankan pro Navod Paranavithana had an excellent day with four wickets and 85no.

On the other side of Farnworth, champions Little Lever got back on the winning trail having lost to Blackrod in round three. They bowled Social Circle out for 51 and won by four wickets.

Spinners Curtis Anderton (5-26) and Nipun Gaikwad shared eight wickets. Indian OA Gaikwad opened the chase with 28no.

Kearsley, like Little Lever, have also won three from four games. They won at home by seven wickets against Astley Bridge, whose 87 all out featured Neylan Chauhan’s fabulous 6-9 from 8.1 overs. South African OA, Byron Giraudeaux, top-scored with 33 opening the batting in the chase.

Tonge’s Sri Lankan pro Hashan Dumindu had an excellent day in their home win against Padiham, by 33 runs. He top-scored with 50 in 155 all out before striking four times as the visitors were bowled out for 122.

Shoyab Haji was the pick of the Tonge bowlers with 5-25, securing their second league win of 2024.

In the Championship, Baxenden maintained pace with leaders Atherton and hold the second promotion spot thanks to a four-wicket win at Oswaldtwistle Immanuel (84 all out).

Captain Jake Hargreaves set the platform for win number three with a new-ball 5-36 before Adam Masood’s unbeaten 29 anchored a successful chase.

Just behind them are Brinscall, who eased past Barnoldswick with a 27-run home win on the back of a 144-9 total.

Sri Lankan pro, Madura Madushanka, top-scored with 52 and claimed four wickets as Barnoldswick’s reply was limited to 117 all out.

And, finally, Earby won at Feniscowles by 28 runs having been bowled out themselves for 112, continuing a trend of a number of low scores across the two divisions at the start of the season.

Earby opener Evan Dobson top-scored with 35 before Joseph Robinson impressed with 5-35 as Feniscowles were bowled out for just 84.