SOUTH West Manchester began their defence of the Manchester Association title with a four-wicket defeat of promoted Bolton Indians.

Najeev Ahmad took 3-27 as the Indians were skittled out for 172 before making an unbeaten 36 in his side's 176-6.

Monton & Weaste were denied a winning start to their last campaign in the Association by plucky Westleigh.

Nav Din top scored with an unbeaten 72 in Monton's total of 207-4, and everything appeared to be going smoothly for Monton when Peter Stanyard took 5-19 with the new ball. But Westleigh hung on at 74-9.

Easiest winners were Stretford (77-0), who thumped Winton (72 all out) by 10 wickets.

In the Littlewoods Gaming Liverpool competition, Dave Cunliffe dashed from an overnight flight to Fleetwood Hesketh to try to help Wigan in division one - and was fined 50p for being late.

But Dave, who has handed over the captaincy to Sean Casham this season, saw his dash prove in vain as the rains came. Wigan could reach only 5-0 in reply to Hesketh's 255-6 declared, West Indian David Bernard being 134 not out.

Worsley, who won only one game last season, looked to be on course when they were 53-2 in reply to Formby's 104.

New Zimbabwe pro Robert Sims took 5-18 and Gareth Walter 4-43 on his return to the club.

Leigh were the only team to chalk up a win in the Premier League KO Trophy. They made just 135 but bowled out Huyton for 71, Paul Vallance taking 4-23. Lancashire's Chris Schofield took 3-29 and hit an unbeaten 19 for Northop Hall at Northern.

Only one game survived the weather in the Bolton Association.

Nick Kernick hit an unbeaten 100 as Edgworth declared on 160-4, but Ijaz Mahmood's 95 not out helped Little Hulton to 163-4 and a six wicket win.

Manchester Association: Bolton 87-5 (Swift 35) Bury 84 (I Ashgar 7-25), Monton & Weaste 207-4 (Din 72no, Tueon 64) Westleigh 74-9 (Stanyard 5-19), South West Manchester 176-6 Bolton Indians 172 (Watkins 4-58), Stretford 77-0 Winton 72 (McGuffog 4-18), Swinton Moorside 109-3 (Roberts 62) Hindley St Peter's 105 (Hussein 6-19).

Littlewoods Gaming Liverpool Competition. Prem Lge KO Gp 1: New Brighton 5-0 Lytham 171-7 rain, Southport v Wallasey 217-6 rain. Gp 2: Leigh 135 (Davis 38) Huyton 71, Northern 185 (Marshall 64) Northop Hall 38-5 rain. Gp 3: Bootle 189 Sefton Park 39-0 rain, Maghull 150 Ormskirk 27-1 rain. Div 1: Caldy 128 (Cooper 46) Liverpool 177, Fleetwood Hesketh 255-6 dec (Bernard 134 no) Wigan 5-0 rain, Formby 104 (Sims 5-18, Walter 4-43) Worsley 35-2, Haydock 75-1 St Helens 212-5 dec rain, Newton-le-Willows 119 Colwyn Bay 181-4 dec, Orrell RT 171 Hightown 212-4 dec (Wallace 70), St Helens Recs 79-7 (Peet 27) Highfield 78 (Orchard 5-18).

Bolton Association: Astley & Tyldesley 133-5dec Spring View 68-5, Atherton 236-3dec (Brown 88, West 67) Daisy Hill 118-3, Blackrod 240-6dec (Namajee 53, Southworth 71) Golborne DNB, Walshaw 170-8dec (Fielding 113) Darcy Lever 63-2, Elton 156-9dec (Read 57, Wardle 5-49) Adlington 75-4, Edgworth 160-4dec (Kenrick 100no) Little Hulton 163-4 (Mahmood 95no), Clifton 134-5dec (Hamilton 60no) Standish 72-2.

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