Westhoughton cruise through in Hamer Cup

12:09pm Tuesday 17th June 2008

WESTHOUGHTON booked themselves a place in the Hamer Cup semi-final after easily taming local rivals Horwich.

The Grundy Hill outfit have had a resurgence this season, backed by top pro Deeraj Jadhav, and although the Pakistani was in good form again with the bat, he had little support.

Horwich were skittled out for 114 and Jadhav made 64 of them. Deputy pro Satish Rajagopal took 4-30.

The total was never enough and Westhoughton raced home for the loss of only one wicket. Adam Coates finished on 59 and Ian Pilkington 43.

There was a much closer confrontation in the second derby clash involving Farnworth and Social Circle.

Again the result was determined by the professional not being given support and that cost Circle the game.

Farnworth batted first and made 234-9 with pro Imran Farhat hitting 82 as Chris Barrow took five wickets.

In reply, Social Circle should have won the game after pro Shantha Kalavitigoda made 138, but none of his colleagues could stick around and Circle were all out for 205. Farhat had a big part to play in the collapse with the Pakistani's leg spin earning him eight wickets.

Egerton had wobbled in the league the previous day but fell flat on their faces at Tonge.

The home side made 182 with Danny Partington 43. Egerton had a solid start but lost four wickets in three overs and were all out for 100 with Tom Fairclough, coming in at number nine, the top scorer on 25. Adam Street finished with 4-55.

Walkden eased into the last four with a comfortable win over bottom club Heaton. Walkden, beaten by Greenmount in last year's final, hit 285-9 with Liam Jackson leading the way with 74. Heaton were never in the hunt despite 54 from Peter Halliday and were dismissed for 171. David Smith took 5-41.

lWalkden are at home to Farnworth SC tonight in the Lyddon Trophy Twenty20 competition. Atherton beat Blackrod on Friday.