Oliver Parr was Padiham’s hero with three wickets and a match-winning straight six as they sneaked past Kearsley by one wicket chasing 134 in an Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Premiership Saturday thriller, writes Graham Hardcastle.

Parr’s 3-24 helped Padiham restrict their hosts to 133-8 before no one else reached double figures in reply after openers Jack Edgar (41) and Owen Deakin-Pickard (49) shared 75.

They crumbled to 124-9, but Parr and captain Toby Burrows put on 11 for the last wicket, including Parr’s maximum to ensure Padiham’s seventh win from 10 games, claiming 10 points.

On 84 points, sixth-placed Padiham are 30 behind leaders Little Lever, who claimed their 10th straight win and a 12-point haul against bottom side Walkden. They lost their 10th game despite impressive resistance from 25-6 on the road.

Nabeel Tahir’s belligerent 76 with nine sixes from number seven underpinned a revival to 187 all out. But a 135-run opening stand between Indian overseas amateur Nipun Gaikwad (53) and Adil Nisar proved decisive. Nisar finished 86 not out in an eight-wicket Little Lever (114 points) win.

Second-placed Eagley maintained the pressure with a five-wicket win - their seventh - at home to Cherry Tree, chasing 153 to move to 93 points.

Pakistani professional Ayaz Tasawar starred with 3-21 in Cherry Tree’s 152-8 and an unbeaten 63.

Barnoldswick’s fourth win ensured Ribblesdale Wanderers lost ground in third, triumphant by five wickets chasing 162 at home.

Sri Lankan pro Upul Indrasiri claimed 5-34 from 14 overs in Ribblesdale’s 161-9 before Abid Ul Wahab (45) and Jonathan Beech (44 not out) recovered Barnsoldswick from 94-4.

Fourth-placed Farnworth won at Brinscall, while cross-town rivals Farnworth Social Circle (84 points) are just two points and a place behind having played 11. They claimed a landslide 126-run win at struggling Whalley, who slumped to 51 all out chasing 178.

Azan Riaz top-scored with 31 from number nine to recover Social Circle from 129-7 to 177 all out, the visitors surviving Levi Wolfenden’s outstanding 7-62 from 14.4 overs having taken the new ball.

Chris Barrow claimed a remarkable 6-5 from six overs of spin for Social Circle.

Salesbury and Blackrod claimed away and home wins to strengthen their top 10 places.

Salesbury chased 160 to beat Baxenden (159-9) by eight wickets as Oliver Wetton with 5-33 from 13 overs and Connor Dale and captain Pete Richardson - 64 and 63 - all shone.

Hosts Blackrod beat Read (140) by 114 runs having posted 254-7. Brilliant unbeaten Indian pro and opener Ankit Lamba hit his second 133 in three weeks before Charlie Fletcher starred with 5-29 in a routine defence.

Settle beat Earby at home by 84 runs. Tremaine Dowrich top-scored with 55 in 183 all out before his spin accounted for an excellent 3-13 from 10 overs in Earby’s 99 all out.

Lostock and Atherton won almost identical games at Feniscowles and at home to Tonge - both by eight wickets - as they like Settle chase top 12 finishes.

Tom Sheen’s new ball 5-17 bowled Feniscowles out for 96 before Lostock pro Akbar Ur Rehman top-scored with 34.

Astley Bridge have the same aim and claimed an eye-catching 29-run win over Oswaldtwistle Immanuel.

Bridge were bowled out for 114 before skittling their visitors for 85.

Bridge’s Kai Hodgkiss with 24 not out from number eight was the only batter in the match to pass 20 before David Cryer and Haaris Akhtar claimed three wickets apiece.