Walsden face a busy weekend of Central Lancashire League action and will be aiming to bounce back from a below-par display at Middleton.
Chris Dewhirst’s men host Clifton on Saturday and go to Littleborough 24 hours later determined to atone for a seven-wicket defeat four days ago.
Fortunately for Walsden the other three leading sides were also beating so the champions still head the table by a comfortable margin.
Walsden lost talented pair James Rawlinson and Matt Dawson without a run on the board at Middleton and although Jake Hooson made 71 they never fully recovered.
Replacement pro Dan Salpietro and overseas amateur Shuhbam Harkal each made 29 and Joe Gale 23 but Walsden had to settle for a total of 185 for eight.
Jamie Shackleton’s three wickets put the visitors well in the hunt but an unbroken stand of 128 between Ashar Zaidi (82 no) and skipper Steve Davey (62 no) carried the home side to victory.
Zaidi was guesting for Middleton. The Accrington pro’s string of big scores included 108 for Walsden in a recent home victory over Milnrow.
Aussie Salpietro will again deputise for injured ex-county spinner Richard Dawson on Saturday. Lancashire CCC’s ex-Royton all-rounder Luke Proctor plays on Sunday. Nick Barker returns after work commitments.
Walsden’s seconds maintained their fine form last weekend when dismissing visitors Middleton for 57, thanks to medium pacer Tyson Illingworth’s six for 20.
Openers Ryan Howley (25) and Stuart Hanson (18) were the only men out as Walsden won by eight wickets.
The seconds are at Clifton on Saturday and at home to Royton on Sunday.
Bridgeholme host Outlane in Division One of the Foster’s Halifax League on Saturday boosted by a 12-point haul from a trip to Oxenhope.
Allah Ditta was the match-winner after the home men had looked likely victors at 155 for five in response to the Eastwood side’s 197 for eight.
Ditta took four wickets in 10 balls to finish with six for 59 as Oxenhope made 175.
Chris Kibble hit 50 for Bridgeholme while Oxenhope, who go to Sowerby SP on Saturday, were best served by Liam Dyson with four wickets with 57 runs.
Old Town go to Shelf in Divsion Two looking to bounce back from a defeat by Stainland in which a knock of 73 rom new signing Awais Matloob was the highlight and nine dropped catches the low point.