An eight-wicket win chasing 157 was Salesbury’s seventh in 10 games and kept them in touch in fourth place. Andrew Mercer struck three times in Little Lever’s 156 all out before unbeaten South African professional, Garnett Tarr, top-scored with 77 chasing. He shared a decisive opening partnership of 149 with Liam Parkinson, who made 68 having earlier taken a wicket.
Little Lever’s second defeat in 10 has re-opened the door for Blackrod, who were indebted to a fabulous 7-16 from seven overs for new-ball seamer Matthew Readey, as Tonge were skittled for just 30 in an eight-wicket win. Blackrod raced to win number nine from 11 in a match lasting only a total of 21 overs, owing to Readey’s second seven-wicket haul of 2024. Six of his wickets were bowled.
In fact, nine Tonge batters were bowled. Bajan overseas amateur Antonio Greenidge added the other three wickets in a 12-point return. Padiham are third.
Toby Burrows went within a whisker of matching Readey’s seven wickets for Blackrod, the Padiham skipper and star spinner claiming 7-21 to secure a hard-fought home win against lowly Lostock. Brilliant Burrows is now the NWCL’s leading wicket-taker with 52 in all cricket. Lostock would have been confident of victory when they bowled Padiham out for 130.
Ultimately, Callum Clarke’s opening 59 proved the innings of the match. Lostock’s confidence would have grown at 42-1 in reply, but they lost nine for 34 to be bowled out for 76 - a 54-run victory margin for Padiham.
