League Leaders Toppled

Westhoughton hosted Little Lever for the second time this season, following their triumph in the ECB T/20 a few weeks ago. The visitors batted first and almost immediately lost a wicket as Qaiser Abbas struck for the first of his five wickets (5-60 from 23 overs) to leave Lever 4-1. At 49-2, somewhat of a recovery had occured, but then Qaiser picked up two more wickets to go alongside Kieran Edwards (1-29 from 10 overs) in restricting the scroing rate to just above 3 an over. Rob Brown came into the attack and took 1-32 from 6 overs before being replaced by Atiq Uz-Zaman who took 3-16 in 6.3 overs to leave Little Lever 147 all out in the 46th over.
Westhoughton also lost a couple of early wickets with Rob Houghton (1) and Ian Pilkington (6) both dismissed LBW. Atiq continued on his way and reached 57, first building a partnership of 39 with Qaiser (19) and later a 50 partnership with Kieran Paisley (16). Nerves began to wobble as the two were dismissed, Rob Brown also being bowled for 0, as the hosts went from 132-4 to 135-7, before Kieran Edwards and Charlie Honour (along with 31 extras) saw Westhoughton over the line for a 3 wicket victory.
The 1st XI host Bradshaw in the Hamer Cup tomorrow (Sun 16th June) with a place in the Semi Finals up for grabs. The game starts at 1pm.