WESTHOUGHTON were the only beneficiaries of the downpour in Bolton on Sunday as they picked up maximum points with victory away to Tonge.

While the rain ensured that all other ties were abandoned and each team was awarded two points each, the Howfeners raced to victory to claim the maximum seven points before the heavens opened.

Oliver Newby (7-23) and Qaisar Abbas (2-3) bowled Tonge out for 43 inside 22.3 overs.

Rob Houghton (10) and Mark Atherton (24), along with 12 extras, saw off the target with all 10 wickets still intact and only 23 balls bowled. The win lifts Westhoughton to fourth in the league table, five points off top spot.

Matt Fray (31) and Oliver Sutcliffe (43) opened for Heaton as they batted first against Eagley.

Professional Haroon Farhat added 43 and Imran Mirza finished on 75 not out as the Lower Pools side posted 211-9 with three balls remaining before the rain fell.

Awais Zia and Danny Counsell both took three wickets each but their side were denied the opportunity to launch a reply.

Horwich came close to completing their home game against Bradshaw but they too fell victim to the weather.

Babar Naeem (5-31) and Rakeeb Mahmood (4-29) bowled the visitors out for 60 inside 33 overs. Professional Kamran Younis top-scored with 19.

The hosts were set a reduced target of 51 to win and they set a good pace reaching 28-2 inside six overs. But the conditions became unplayable and the points were then shared.

Mohammed Jameel scored 69 for Kearlsey as they were bowled out for 137 at home to Astley Bridge.

Andy Griffiths added 23 but the Springfield Road side fell victim to brilliant bowling from Syd De Silva (5-51) shortly before the weather claimed another victim.

League-leaders Egerton remain at the top after their game away to Greenmount was abandoned.

Paul Stafford (73*) helped the table-toppers recover from a bad start which saw them posting 22-4 to finished on 156-7 before the rain forced the game to be abandoned.

David Tonge hit 60 for Farnworth Social Circle as they scored 107-7 at home to Farnworth, but the game was abandoned after 38 overs meaning both sides still trail Egerton in the league table.

Little Lever racked up a total of 230-4 before the weather halted their game at home to Walkden. Adam Carter (78) and Zain Abbas (85*) were the main contributors with the bat.

Results

Farnworth Social Circle 107-7, Farnworth dnb. Abandoned.

Greenmount dnb, Egerton 156-7. Abandoned.

Heaton 211-9, Eagley dnb. Abandoned.

Horwich 28-2, Bradshaw 60. Abandoned.

Kearsley 137, Astley Bridge dnb. Abandoned.

Little Lever 230-4, Walkden dnb. Abandoned.

Westhoughton 46-0, Tonge 43-9. Westhoughton won by 10 wkts.