Key Points
- Hamer Cup Success: Read Cricket Club secured the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League’s flagship Hamer Cup trophy for the second time in three seasons by defeating Championship promotion-chasers Atherton in a one-sided final.
- Dominant Victory: Read won the 40-over match hosted by Little Lever at Victory Road by eight wickets, comfortably reaching their target with 15.1 overs to spare.
- Atherton Batting Collapse: After a promising start reaching 50-0 in the 12th over and 80-1 in the 18th, Atherton collapsed to 127 all out inside 37 overs after opting to bat first.
- Star All-Rounder: Sri Lankan professional Sehan Weerasinghe starred with both ball (2-28) and bat (66 off 60 balls, including three sixes) to guide Read home.
- Bowling Honors: Chris Holt finished as the pick of the Read bowlers with 3-19 from eight overs, supported by Zadian Muller (2-16) and James Evans (2-16).
- Leaving Present: Weerasinghe’s match-winning heroics serve as an early parting gift, as he is set to join Lancashire League outfit Bacup for the 2027 season after spending two campaigns with Read.
- Season Saver: Read skipper Will Wrathall, who also captained the side to their 2024 Hamer Cup title, noted that the cup victory salvaged Read’s campaign following dropped points in the league title chase and a semi-final exit in the Birtwistle T20 Cup.
- Lancashire Knockout Cup Qualification: The victory places Read on the brink of qualifying for next season's Lancashire Knockout Cup, provided they maintain their top-five standing in the Premiership.
Little Lever (Bolton Today) August 24, 2026 - Read Cricket Club have claimed the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Hamer Cup for the second time in three seasons following an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Atherton in Sunday's flagship final at Victory Road. As reported by sports journalist Graham Hardcastle of The Bolton News, Read’s captain Will Wrathall lifted the prestigious trophy—repeating his success from 2024—after a dominant performance spearheaded by Sri Lankan professional Sehan Weerasinghe, who delivered an all-round masterclass with both ball and bat.
Atherton, who currently push for promotion in the Championship, won the coin toss and chose to bat first on Little Lever’s home ground. However, despite a bright early start, they were unable to set a commanding total, collapsing from a strong position to be dismissed for 127 within 37 overs. In response, Read efficiently chased down the required score, finishing on 131-2 inside 25 overs to seal a resounding victory with 15.1 overs remaining.
How Did Atherton Lose Control Of The Match After A Bright Start?
According to details reported by Graham Hardcastle in The Bolton News, Atherton initially appeared poised to set a challenging target for their Premiership opponents. The opening pair took advantage of early conditions, comfortably guiding their side to 50-0 by the 12th over.
The momentum briefly continued as Atherton advanced to 80-1 in the 18th over. Opener and captain Jack Welch led the line admirably, top-scoring for the Bolton-based side with a crisp 47 runs. However, Welch's dismissal by Read's Sri Lankan professional Sehan Weerasinghe triggered a middle-order slide from which Atherton never recovered.
Graham Hardcastle highlighted that Atherton were severely hampered by the fact that no other batter managed to make a notable contribution beyond fellow opener Oliver Gredecki, who scored 14. The remaining batting lineup buckled under sustained pressure from Read’s disciplined bowling attack, resulting in Atherton losing their last nine wickets for just 47 runs to end their innings prematurely at 127 all out in 36.5 overs.
Who Were The Key Performers With The Ball For Read?
Read’s bowling unit produced a clinical collective display to dismantle Atherton’s batting order. As detailed by Graham Hardcastle of The Bolton News, the standout performer with the ball was medium-pacer Chris Holt, who finished as the pick of the Read bowlers with remarkable figures of 3-19 from his maximum allocation of eight overs.
Complementing Holt’s tight spell, South African overseas amateur Zadian Muller delivered an equally frugal performance, returning figures of 2-16 from 6.5 overs. Fellow bowler James Evans mirrored Muller’s defensive tightness, taking 2-16 from his five overs.
Professional spinner Sehan Weerasinghe played a vital role in restricting the run flow and breaking Atherton’s dangerous opening stand, taking 2-28 across his eight overs. The combined discipline of the attack ensured Atherton remained pinned down throughout the middle overs, setting up a modest target for Read's top order.
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How Did Read Complete The Run Chase To Secure The Trophy?
Read’s reply got off to an anxious start when captain Will Wrathall was dismissed early, leaving his side at 12-1. A brief period of instability followed as a second wicket fell, reducing Read to 44-2 and offering Atherton a glimmer of hope.
However, as reported by Graham Hardcastle in The Bolton News, any lingering nerves were swiftly put to rest by Sehan Weerasinghe and third-wicket partner Joe Marshall. The pair established an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 97 runs to power Read to victory.
Weerasinghe proved to be the aggressor, finishing as the top-scorer of the match with an explosive 66 off just 60 balls, a knock containing three sixes. Marshall provided steady support at the other end, scoring a measured, unbeaten 40 off 54 deliveries.
Graham Hardcastle noted that Weerasinghe brought the final to a spectacular conclusion in the 26th over. Facing Atherton’s Bajan overseas amateur Jamaine Bullen during the second half of the over, the Sri Lankan professional hit a sequence of four, six, and six to reach 131-2 and seal the championship in grand fashion with 15.1 overs left in the match.
What Does This Trophy Mean For Read’s Season And Sehan Weerasinghe’s Future?
The Hamer Cup victory carries significant weight for Read Cricket Club as they reflect on their overall campaign. In the build-up to the final hosted at Little Lever’s Victory Road ground, captain Will Wrathall explicitly stated that winning the trophy would "save Read's season." As Graham Hardcastle of The Bolton News reported, Wrathall made the statement after Read had fallen short in their league title challenge and suffered a disappointing defeat in the semi-finals of the Birtwistle T20 Cup.
The victory holds emotional significance for Sehan Weerasinghe as well. His match-winning performance serves as an early leaving gift to the club, following an announcement made at the start of the weekend that he will be departing Read after two seasons to join Lancashire League side Bacup for the 2027 campaign.
Furthermore, this triumph puts Read on the path toward higher-level competition next year. As winner of the Hamer Cup, Read will secure qualification for next season's prestigious Lancashire Knockout Cup, provided they complete the season inside the top five places of the Premiership table. As noted by Graham Hardcastle, that qualification is almost mathematically assured: Read currently occupy third place with a 15-point buffer over sixth-placed Salesbury, with only three matches remaining and a maximum of 36 points available.
What Lies Ahead For Atherton Following The Final Defeat?
Despite the disappointment of a one-sided defeat in the flagship final, Atherton's appearance at Victory Road represented a major milestone for the club. As highlighted by Graham Hardcastle of The Bolton News, simply reaching the Hamer Cup final was regarded as a significant achievement for the Championship side when competing against elite Premiership opposition.
Atherton’s season is far from over, as they remain embroiled in a tight battle for promotion to the top flight. With three league matches remaining in the season, Atherton still hold a realistic chance of securing promotion. To achieve this, they will likely need to win all three of their final fixtures to overtake second-placed Eagley and earn their place in the Premiership for next year.