Buoyant Blackrod keep up the pace at summit

Padiham bowled Ribblesdale Wanderers out for just 28 in a 142-run victory to claim their third win in five Premiership games during a thrilling day of Anthony Axford North West Cricket League action on Saturday.

Spin bowling captain Toby Burrows took the new ball and returned a superb 6-3 from nine overs to consign Ribblesdale to a fifth straight defeat as they responded to their hosts’ 170-5.

Padiham professional Jack Edgar impressed with 30 opening the batting and four wickets opening the bowling, but overseas amateur Zander Van Tonder top-scored with 51.

Blackrod were at it again to win their fifth straight game, a haul matched by joint Premiership leaders Salesbury.

Blackrod were bowled out for 64 but beat champions Little Lever a fortnight ago. On Saturday, they were bowled out for 96 at home to Lostock and won again - by 10 runs.

Blackrod recovered from 46-8 thanks to Charlie Fletcher’s 23 and Lucas Stevenson’s 15. They shared a determined ninth-wicket 43.

Rob Holgate claimed a superb 6-26 for Lostock, who later fell from 29-1 to 86 all out. Matthew Readey and pro Navod Paranavithana claimed three wickets apiece for buoyant Blackrod.

They are locked on 58 points alongside Salesbury, who beat Eagley (153-8) by three wickets at home.

Liam Parkinson claimed three wickets for the hosts, but Lewis Pearson was their hero with two new-ball wickets and then a middle-order unbeaten 60 with six sixes, leading the recovery from 97-5 and 131-7.

He nervelessly finished the game in the 36th over with a six and a four.

Into the Championship for a moment, Brinscall continued their encouraging start to 2024 by bowling Earby out for just 30 amidst a thumping win.

Sam Maclachlan’s side claimed their third win in five games, this one by seven wickets in double quick-time, triumphing in a fixture lasting only 34.1 overs in total.

Atiq Shah set the tone with the new ball, claiming four wickets to put the skids under Earby. Pro Madura Madushanka and overseas amateur Divan Van Tonder shared five wickets before a successful chase.

There were three candidates for match of the day in the Premiership, including Blackrod’s win.

Tonge bowled hosts and bottom side Astley Bridge out for 55, but only won by two wickets - their third league success.

Shoyab Haji claimed four wickets with the new ball, but Bridge pro Alexander Kok claimed 6-31, expertly keeping his side in the hunt.

Kok’s sixth wicket with off-spin reduced Tonge to 51-8, but captain Connor Lord - who earlier took three wickets - hit the winning run.

Social Circle won a thrilling Farnworth derby by two runs at their Piggott Park home.

Bowled out for 193 in the 45th over, including pro Jameel Stuart’s 64, the Bajan then struck three times with his spinners, including the first of a Farnworth collapse from 190-7 to 191 all out.

But Azan Riaz starred with the last two wickets in four balls in the 42nd over, on 191, as Social Circle won their third game.

Little Lever left-arm spinner, Curtis Anderton, claimed a stunning 9-20 from 11.3 overs - the day’s standout individual performance - in their seven-wicket win at home to Kearsley (72 all out).

Anderton claimed the early wickets of Kearsley’s South African duo Byron Giraudeaux and Jono Bird and never looked back en-route to the second best figures in either first-team division this summer.

Pro Sam Fanning led the chase with 33 not out, opening the batting for a Little Lever side who have won four of their five Premiership games and are third - six points behind leaders Blackrod and Salesbury.

In the Championship, Walkden won a thriller at Read by three wickets.

They bowled Read out for 188, including three wickets for Faisal Hussain and two apiece for Ammad Afzal and Mustafa Bashir, who later hit the winning runs.

Muzammil Nizam top-scored in the chase with 58 for win number three in four games.

He led the recovery from 113-5, sharing 64 with Umar Shahid, who hit 40. Captain for the day Bashir then hit his second ball for six to seal the 12 points with two balls remaining.

They are joint third with Atherton, level on 40 points - eight behind Brinscall and Baxenden at the top with a game in hand. Brinscall and Baxenden have played five to the chasing pair’s four.

Baxenden won by four wickets at Whalley, who they bowled out for 148. Captain Jake Hargreaves claimed four wickets. Professional Ben Gorton had an even better day with three wickets and 78no opening the batting, anchoring a chase which wasn’t entirely straightforward, but never realistically looked like failing.

Barnoldswick claimed their first win at the fifth attempt, by four wickets at home to Oswaldtwistle Immanuel (112 all out).

Sub pro Ankit Sharma from Nelson claimed four wickets for the hosts and then top-scored in their chase with an unbeaten 52, recovering from potential peril at 6-2 and 72-6.