BOOTLE leapfrogged their opponent Leigh after an 86-run win at the weekend.

The visitors won the toss and Hedley Molyneux made an early breakthrough dismissing opener Michael Gill with the score on 24.

The hosts then picked up the pace to reach 79 when fellow opener David Snellgrove was caught by Ross Zelem off Matt McKiernan (32).

Jackson Knight (35) and Scott Butterworth (31) kept the scoreboard tick over before some late resistance by Craig Prince (61) helped Bootle declare on 226-7.

McKieran was the pick of the bowlers for Leigh with 5-66 while Richard Dempster and Molyneux also took a wicket apiece.

In reply, Leigh suffered a setback with Matthew Hibbert caught by Chris Stenhouse off Scott Butterworth (four) with the score on 17.

Thomas Foster (eight) had a short spell at the pavilion but it was opener Ross Zelem who spearheaded their challenge with 66 including 11 fours and one six.

The wickets continued to fall with Adam Shallcross (seven), McKiernan (four), Daniel Hewitt (duck) all out to leave Leigh struggling on 50-5.

Then Lewis Bailey chipped in with 45 to steady the ship but after Zelem went on 137, Leigh struggled even more with no other batsman reaching double-figures.

Elsewhere, the second team defeated Liverpool by 73 runs.

An unbeaten 75 by Matthew Yates and Michael Waywell (56) were the main highlights for the hosts as they declared on 227-5.

The visitors were all out for 154 with Chris Waywell taking 5-41.

The first team will be looking to get back to winning ways when they entertain mid-table Lytham on Saturday while the second team will be on the road against their Lytham counterparts.