Elwoods put Barrowford’s bowlers to the sword in win

Baxenden took on Whalley and batted first, and their innings was dominated by their professional Ben Gorton, who made 84 off 49 deliveries, including 15 fours. He got late support from S Akhtar who made 21 not out.

In reply, Whalley got off to an excellent start, with openers Frankie Jackson and Levi Wolfenden scoring freely in an opening partnership of 83. Wolfenden was first out for 61 off only 29 deliveries, including nine fours and three sixes. Jackson made 27 and Stuart Crabtree 14, but Whalley collapsed from 104-1 to end on 143-9, to give Baxenden a win by 12 runs. Three run-outs did not help Whalley’s reply as H Massod took 3-24.

Conference side Barrowford started their campaign at Cherry Tree, looking to qualify from the group stage as they had last season.

Opener M Jamal made 33 but they lost wickets on a regular basis and ended on a sub-par 120-8. Mo Bhada and Kurt Smithson took three wickets each.

Owen and Charlie Elwood put the Barrowford bowling to the sword, putting on 97 for the first wicket with Charlie scoring 61 off just 25 deliveries, including right fours and four sixes. Owen, with 31no, saw Cherry Tree home to a seven-wicket win with nearly eight overs to spare.

Oswaldtwistle batted first against Salesbury and their innings was based around opener L Siraini, who made 73 off 54 deliveries with four fours and four sixes before being run-out off the last ball of the innings in a score of 153-5.

Salesbury’s reply got off to a bad start with T Furbush out first ball. However, Garnett Tarr hit 64, including six fours and five sixes and Liam Parkinson put on 95 for the second wicket.

Parkinson guided Salesbury home with three overs to spare, making an unbeaten 57.

Friday’s fixtures: Earby v Barnoldswick, Padiham v Foulridge, Read v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Baxenden, Atherton v Astley Bridge, Brinscall v Eagley, Farnworth v Blackrod, Kearsley v Farnworth SC, Lostock v Tonge, Walkden v Little Lever.