HAVING looked an unlikely match-winner when his first four deliveries all disappeared to the boundary, East Lancs all-rounder Phil Bolton showed commendable resolve to bring an end to Lowerhouse's unbeaten start to the season.

The league leaders have made a habit of upsetting the odds so far this summer and they had the defending champions in their sights when professional Peter Fulton and Chris Bleazard were going full throttle in pursuit of East Lancs' total of 262-7.

It was always going to be a big ask for Lowerhouse to overhaul a score built around another big partnership from Paul Turner and David Pearson, who enjoy batting at Liverpool Road after setting a club record second-wicket stand of 244 there last season.

But Fulton and Bleazard briefly tipped the balance the hosts' way as they saw off the initial threat of professional Quinton Friend to set about the support bowling.

Hugh Doyle, who pocketed a nine-wicket haul earlier this season, went for eight an over to prompt skipper Paul Kelly to turn to Bolton to try and make the break-through.

The cars on the boundary edge looked the only things in danger of being smashed when Fulton hit Bolton's first four deliveries for a six and three fours before running a single to make it 19 off the over.

But with Kelly showing faith in the medium-pacer, Bolton bravely grabbed the ball to keep himself in the firing line and after stemming the flow persuaded Bleazard to hit a lofted straight drive to Friend who took a fine tumbling catch.

Bleazard's departure three short of a half-century, after hitting six fours from 79 balls, ended a 118 run stand to rescue Lowerhouse from 6-2. And just four runs later Bolton struck the decisive blow when Fulton miscued a pull shot to find the hands of Turner just inside the ropes.

The in-form New Zealander had faced just 77 balls for his 76 but after hitting nine fours and a six in an another impressive innings must have been kicking himself for wasting the chance of his first Lancashire League century and all but ending Lowerhouse's victory hopes.

Confidence restored, Bolton then removed Pete Mawdsley and Chris Benbow and with Friend bowling fast and straight to remove Charlie Cottam and thenthe Hope brothers in successive balls, the home side slumped to 148-9 as they lost seven wickets for just 24 runs.

Joe Beneduce offered late resistance with 34 off 35 balls, including six fours, but when he holed-out off Paul Kelly, East Lancs had secured maximum points towards their title defence.

"It was a massive game for us," admitted Bolton. "Lowerhouse have started well in the past and fallen away, but this time they look like they have a team that could keep it going.

"We didn't want to go too far behind them. We knew that if we had lost the gap would have taken some clawing back. It could have been something like three wins.

"At one point they were dominating the game. Chris Bleazard and the pro were making it look quite easy. They were well on target. We needed a change, and luckily it came off. After an inconsistent start to the season East Lancs will be hoping the arrival of Friend, who looks quick enough to cause problems on a fast track, and the return to form of their top batsmen will ignite their challenge at the top of the table.

Pearson and Turner, who broke the club's amateur battingrecord last season, had been short of runs but their third-wicket partnership of 94 ultimately pushed the game out of Lowerhouse's reach.

Neither could match the hundreds they made last August, although Turner, who hit three sixes and seven fours in his run-a-ball knock, might have gone onto three figures but for one that kept low to curtail his effort at 74.