ATHERTON CC's season was consigned to mediocrity when defeat at Little Hulton on Saturday ended any hopes of mounting a title challenge while on Sunday their Cross Cup hopes were ended with defeat at the semi-final stage against Clifton.

The defeat at Little Hulton was particularly hard to swallow as the Higham Park boys had posted one of their highest totals for years, a massive 271-5, but they were outdone by the league leaders' heavy scorers and fell in the penultimate over.

On Saturday after losing the toss the visitors found themselves having to take first use of a wicket that looked like being a difficult track. However openers Karl Brown and Paul Keenan had 25 on the board by the fifth over.

Brown went for 16 and Phil West joined Keenan. They soon began to score freely and added 50 in eight overs.

Half century

Keenan was first to his half century of 54 balls, shortly followed by West off 40. By the half-way point they had raised the score to 144 before Keenan was caught by pro Ijaz for an excellent 64.

Phil Wakefield and West put on 55 for the third wicket before calling mix up resulted in Wakefield being run out for 21. Mihir Diwakar joined West and they added a further 63 before West was bowled by Mark Penny for a superb 133 with 19 fours, 3 sixes and a five.

Paul Walsh was run out off the last ball for five, leaving Diwakar unbeaten on 28.

The home side immediately took up the challenge. Ignoring the early loss of Ashley Parry to Ian Nuttall, Penny and Ijaz began to pulverise the Atherton bowling. Penny was particularly brutal in his treatment of Diwakar, taking five sixes off two overs. He was out caught by Nuttall attempting a repeat but he had made 44 off 19 balls.

The rest of the innings became one of who could stay with Ijaz. He found enough support to plunder a magnificent 143 not out to take his side to victory with an over to spare.

Best bowling for Atherton was skipper Paul Brown's 3-50 from 12.

After losing another toss, Atherton had to field first in their Cross Cup semi-final.

Diwakar and Nuttall kept a tight grip on the scoring rate but with the bowlers being restricted to 10 over apiece changes had to be made. David Baines and Paul Brown replaced the openers but both gave away early runs.

Further juggling of the bowling brought Phil Wakefield and Paul Walsh into the attack - but both suffered similarly. Andrew Griffiths and David Hamilton built a partnership of 125 before Hamilton fell to a brilliant slip catch by West.

With only one other batsman reaching double figures it was left to Griffiths to propel the innings to 216-8, Griffiths making 119.

Atherton used Nuttall as a pinch-hitter to open the innings but having made 11 he was caught and bowled by Lee Wolstenholme.

Karl Brown and Keenan added 59 before Brown was bowled for 38. Keenan soon followed for 33 and when West and Wakefield became bogged down, the innings fell behind.

Diwakar, Paul Brown and Marsh must just three between them and it was left to Paul Walsh and Phil Williamson to close the innings with a partnership of 49 but still 29 runs short of victory.

Atherton have just one game this weekend, meeting Spring View at Higham Park on Saturday.