WITH leaders Walshaw now seemingly odds on to take a fourth successive Bolton Association league championship, the chasing pack are engaged in a race to finish in the top four and qualify for a place in next season's National KO competition.

As such it was essential that Atherton CC, after two defeats and a draw, got back to winning way in the weekend double header against Daisy Hill and Lostock. With skipper Rob Clews being unavailable, the task of leading the side fell to Dave Charlson.

He could do little about Saturday's game against Daisy Hill as torrential morning rain washed any possibility of play.

Sunday's game at Higham Park saw Lostock win the toss and put in their hosts who were soon looking vulnerable at 22-3 with openers Paul McLoughlin and Karl Brown dismissed for eight and 13 respectively to be quickly followed by pro Mihir Diwakar for one.

The rest of the innings became a story of the two Philips, West and Wakefield, as the pair set about a rescue act which they completed with such good effect that the score had reached 156 before they were separated.

Polished

West was the first to go for a polished 90, containing nine 4s and three 6s. He was followed 12 runs later by Wakefield who had put together a painstaking 47.

Their combined efforts allowed the home side to close on a highly respectable 181-6 at the end of the 48th over.

The visitors reply got off to a slow start, reaching six at the end of the sixth over at which point the first wicket went down. From then on wickets fell at regular intervals.

The only resistance came from skipper Steven Kaye with 36 before he was out to a brilliant catch by Karl Brown.

For Atherton, Mihir took 4-41 from 15, Paul Walsh 4-48 from 11 and David Baines 2-6 from five.

Walsh was particularly effective, dropping his leg breaks and googlies on a length. Two of his victims were clean bowled while shouldering arms.

A last wicket stand of 24 between Alan Forsyth and Phil Hall, which was broken by a brilliant catch from Baines, allowed the visitors to total 110 to give Atherton a 71-run victory.

Atherton have just one game this weekend, away to Darcy Lever on Saturday.