On the penultimate weekend of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Conference Premiership, recently-crowned champions Farnworth had a comprehensive victory as they hosted Read.

Bilal Khan top-scored for the hosts, scoring 122, which was complemented by a 47 from Rizwan Pervez. The league’s leading wicket taker, Mehr Khan (5-32), took another ‘five-for’ .

Elsewhere, Cherry Tree defeated Foulridge firsts by four wickets.

Despite losing the game, Foulridge’s skipper, Shahbaz Munir was the top player, scoring 32 and taking 3-33.

Salesbury won in a close encounter as they visited Farnworth Social Circle. Andrew Watering took 5-37 for the hosts in bowling Salesbury out 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 as they visited Little Lever. Captain Ady Cooper top-scored for the visitors, hitting 57 in their 161 all out. Bridge’s Rami Patel took 6-36 in bowling Little Lever out for 109.

Ribblesdale Wanderers and Barrowford firsts also played, however the result is currently unknown.

All teams have played 19 games with the exception of Read, who have played 20. The aforementioned Ribblesdale and Barrowford have played 18.

Title-winners Farnworth lead the way with 188 points, and they are followed by three teams who are level on 151 points - Social Circle, Little Lever and Read.

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

Astley Bridge (ninth) and Foulridge (11th) are already relegated, while Ribblesdale Wanderers sit in 10th place with 99 points, with last weekend’s result currently unknown.

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

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

Last Saturday, Feniscowles smashed 339, with Stuart Heather (97 from 28 deliveries) and Matthew Caddick putting on 137 together. Foulridge were then dismissed for 44, Marc Brennan taking 5-11 and Mahmood Chaudhry 4-28.

Ansar Mahmood took 3-17 as Earby were bowled out for 103. He than added 80 runs along with Umar Mudassar to steer Barrowford to a seven-wicket win.

Imran Ali was responsible for more than half of Walkden’s runs, scoring 64 out 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 reduce Lostock to 80 all out.

Chatburn collapsed from 48-0 to 90 all out, Mohammad Azmat with 4-19. Barnoldswick appeared to be coasting to victory at 76-4, but lost three wickets without adding another run, however they went on to win by three wickets.