ATHERTON CC's double header weekend turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax.

Saturday's game against Elton was always going to be difficult with frontline bowlers Ian Nuttall and Dave Charlson unavailable. Their absence proved critical as the Higham Park side failed to defend a reasonable score of 188.

Sunday's match against Blackrod only got as far as 20 overs when rain of biblical proportions washed out the rest of the day's play with the home side on 54-3.

Against Elton, Karl Brown and Paul McLoughlin opened the innings and made steady progress to take the score to 66 by the 18th over at which point McLoughlin was caught for 25.

Philip West joined Brown and together they took the score to 100 before West was bowled for 19. Pro Mihir Diwakar had made 10 when he was well caught in the deep attempting a big hit.

Brown moved serenely on to complete his first half century for the club at senior level. He was finally unluckily run out for 52 when attempting second run while in partnership with skipper Rob Clews who hit a bright and breezy 26 off 21 balls.

After that the innings fell apart as batsmen got themselves in and out in quick succession and the total struggled to reach 188 all out in the last over.

Elton professional Chris Hall took 5-57 from 19 overs.

When the home side replied, Mihir bowled opener Chris Read second ball for two. But after that wickets proved hard to come by and with Chris Hall sharing in partnerships of 52 and 66 respectively with Steve Lomas and Peter Kay, the home side managed to reach the victory target in the penultimate over for the loss of seven wickets.

Hall had an excellent match, adding 66 to his five wicket haul.

This weekend Atherton face another double header, making the short trip to Daisy Hill on Saturday while entertaining Lostock on Sunday.