Walkden close in on glory (From This Is Lancashire)

Walkden close in on glory

THE title race was thrown wide open on Saturday as Walkden eased to victory to capitalise on slips by the top two, Farnworth Social Circle and Horwich.

Leaders and defending champions Social Circle were defeated by Greenmount in a pulsating encounter.

The Bury side were struggling at 78-6 before Andy Kerr (78) and number eight Damion Keegan (62) pulled their side out of trouble and helped them to 211 all out.

Matt Parkinson (4-43) and Paul Grundy (3-54) were in the wickets.

Greenmount were missing skipper and opening bowler Mark Stewart but the everreliable Phil Heaton (6-67) and Danny Hornby (4-85) filled the void to skittle the visitors for 152.

Horwich could have been forgiven for thinking they were on course for victory when they restricted Kearsley to 152 – Liam Bones taking 6- 60 after the home side were coasting at 58-1.

However, Chris Sainsbury was in devastating form with the ball and his 6-35 induced a collapse that saw RMI crumble from 41-2 to 81 all out.

Those two results have thrown Hamer Cup champions Walkden firmly into the title mix.

Mike Bennison’s men beat struggling Tonge by nine wickets after easily chasing down a target of 153.

Neil Bannister hit the first ever Bolton League century at Westhoughton’s new ground, the St George’s Oval .

He smashed 102 not out in his side’s 215-5, with Australian professional Theo Doropoulos chipping in with 84 in support.

Mike Crookson then returned 5-60 to help roll over visitors Eagley for 144.

Little Lever’s Waqas Ahmed was in fantastic form to lead his side to victory over Astley Bridge.

The Pakistani all-rounder plundered 132 from just 66 balls to steer the visitors to 300-7 from 45 overs. Ian Eccleshare took 5-82 with the ball.

Astley Bridge captain Rick Northrop then scored his third century of the summer, but his 110 proved to be in vain as his side fell 82 runs short of victory – Ahmed capped a fine day by taking 4- 88 and Curtis Anderton returned 4-78.

Farnworth enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon at Bradshaw.

Abir Chippa’s 6-17 saw the home side routed for just 118, despite Pakistani all-rounder Usman Arshad’s quickfire 44.

And Adil Nisar (52) and Jason Swift (51 not out) ensured there would be no problems for Farnworth by easing their side to a six wicket victory.

Egerton, who have secured the services of their Sri Lankan professional Dilruwan Perera for 2011, crushed Heaton by 201 runs at Blackburn Road.