Champions Farnworth II celebrate home win in Read

Bilal Khan top-scored for the hosts with 122, complemented by 47 from Rizwan Pervez. The league’s leading wicket-taker Mehr Khan (5-32) also scored five-fors.

Elsewhere, Cherry Tree defeated Foulridge Firsts by four wickets.

Despite the defeat, Foulridge’s captain Shahbaz Munir was the best player, scoring 32 points and taking 3-33.

Salesbury won in a close match when visiting Farnworth Social Circle. Andrew Watering took 5-37 for the hosts and bowled Salesbury for 161. In response, Social Circle were dismissed for 130 with David Tonge top scoring with 46. Salesbury’s Harvey Vause took 5-25.

Already relegated, Astley Bridge won on their visit to Little Lever. Captain Ady Cooper topped the scores for the visitors, scoring 57 points out of a total of 161. Bridge’s Rami Patel scored 6-36 to knock Little Lever out by 109 points.

First round teams Ribblesdale Wanderers and Barrowford also played, but the result is currently unknown.

All teams have played 19 games, except Read with 20. The previously mentioned teams Ribblesdale and Barrowford have played 18 games.

Defending champions Farnworth lead with 188 points, followed by three teams tied on 151 points – Social Circle, Little Lever and Read.

Salesbury are in fifth place with 149 points, Cherry Tree are sixth with 129 points, Barrowford (123) are seventh and Burnley Belvedere are eighth with 119 points.

Astley Bridge (9th) and Foulridge (11th) have already been relegated, while Ribblesdale Wanderers are in 10th place with 99 points. The result from last weekend is currently unknown.

Padiham (171 points), Walkden (168) and Burnley Beldevere (163) are still fighting for the two promotion places, with all three in action this weekend.

Earby, Feniscowles, Chatburn, Earby, Tonge, Barrowford Seconds, Whalley, Atherton and Foulridge Seconds will all begin in the third division in 2025. They will be joined by Kearsley or Brinscall, the former needing four points today.

Last Saturday, Feniscowles hit 339, with Stuart Heather (97 off 28 deliveries) and Matthew Caddick combining for 137. Foulridge was then dismissed for 44, with Marc Brennan taking 5-11 and Mahmood Chaudhry 4-28.

Ansar Mahmood took 3-17 when Earby was bowled out for 103. He then combined with Umar Mudassar to score 80 runs to lead Barrowford to a seven-wicket victory.

Imran Ali was responsible for more than half of Walkden’s runs, scoring 64 of their 126. Kishan Ram took 4-24 for Lostock and Darren Parr 3-23. Ali then took 3-28 and Mehran Anwar 6-25 to take Lostock to 80 runs.

Chatburn collapsed from 48-0 to 90, with Mohammad Azmat taking 4-19. Barnoldswick looked to be on course for victory at 76-4, but lost three wickets without scoring another run, but won by three wickets.