That was the precise time Dave Senior became the sixth batsman from the village side to trudge disconsolately back to the Heaton dressing rooms.

In boxing terms they were dead on their feet.

At 22 for 6 it looked odds-on a humiliating defeat was on the cards and the home supporters at Lower Pools could have been forgiven for thinking they'd be making the short trip to Bradshaw for the final in two weeks time.

But sport is at it's best when it's unpredictable, and no-one could have forseen the remarkable victory Greenmount pulled out of the bag.

Make no mistake, they had Indian professional Nishit Shetty to thank for hauling them back from the brink.

The talented all-rounder made a superb 67 and thankfully, had willing helpers in wicketkeeper Paul Blinkhorn (20) and promoted second team captain Ian Senior who hung around for more than an hour for 10.

It was Shetty's spell at the crease with Blinkhorn that gave Greenmount hope as the pairing adding 42 for the seventh wicket.

Senior and Shetty then added 44 before the paid man was caught on the boundary with the score on 108.

Contributions from Martin Kay (6) and Mark Stewart (5 not out) took the score to 130 but even then the clever money was on Heaton overhauling that meagre total.

Predictably, the home side were in no mood to rush things, and a good job too as paceman Stewart and Shetty gave openers Ward and Mort no encouragement whatsoever.

At the start of the 18th over Heaton were 17 for 2 and what looked like wishful thinking didn't seem quite so fanciful for Greenmount followers.

For the home side, Jon Fearick (34) looked up to the job until he was caught behind off the bowling of Ryan Senior with the score on 60.

They then lost another three wickets for only 16 runs but when 76 for 6 turned to 114 for 7 with ten overs left Heaton were still in the driving seat.

Pat Gallagher (31) looked capable of seeing them home until he was caught by Martin Kay off the bowling of skipper Mark Fallon who had crucially picked up the wicket of professional Hirwani seconds earlier.

There was controversy when Gallagher was awarded a six when Andy Bowker caught him on the boundary and clearly threw the ball to Shetty before stumbling back over the boundary.

It could have been a matchwinning decision for Heaton but, if anything it stiffened the resolve of Greenmount who mopped up the tail leaving them seven short in what was a tense finish.

Westhoughton await Greenmount in the final on Sunday, August 1 and the local side will be hoping for a repeat of Saturday's result when they meet up for the third time this season.

Knowing they'd need to overturn the league leaders to keep themselves in the hunt for the Bolton League title they ran up a fine total of 224 for 4 from their rain-affected 33 overs.

Once again Shetty (73) proved his worth with the bat putting on 148 in a first wicket partnership with Gary Chadwick who hit a fine 65.

The reply was pretty much a one-man show as it soon became evident that the target was too much for the visitors.

At 83 for 7 the game looked up but no-one bothered to tell Westhoughton's West Indian professional Antonio Mayers who put in a scintillating display with the bat.

In his 80 minutes at the crease the paid man blasted seven 4's and eight 6's for an impressive 107.

His innings gave the visitors' lower order batsmen the heart to stick it out to the bitter end and the game finished a draw with Westhoughton finishing on 182 for 8.

Ian, Ryan and Dave Senior

SUNDAY'S victory was a poignant one for three members of the Senior family in the Greenmount team.

Brothers Dave and Ian and Ian's son Ryan played on despite suffering the loss of father and grandfather Brian Senior who had died a day earlier after a long illness.

Brian, a well respected wicketkeeper and batsman in his own right plying his trade with Bradshaw, Astley Bridge and Clifton, would have been delighted at the way Greenmount turned the game around on the day and the result was a fitting tribute.

The two teams held a minute's silence before the start of the match as did the players in Saturday's Bolton League clash between Bradshaw and Tonge.