AFTER moving more water than Moses from the Higham ground, Atherton Cricket Club's match against Spring View on Saturday finally got underway at 3.30pm, reduced to 32 overs per innings.

Rob Clews won the toss, elected to field and everything appeared to be going to plan with the visitors reduced to 20-5 in the 20th over, however 42 and 32 respectively from pro Ian Critchley and Martin James together with 13 from Isak Begg ensured that View closed on 154-7 at the end of the 32nd over.

The only Atherton bowler to emerge with credit was Ian Nuttall with figures of 2-26 from 11. It was Atherton professional Mihir Diwakar's first experience of wet English conditions and he found them difficult to cope with, going for 70 from 13 overs for two wickets taken.

Karl Brown and Paul McLoughlin opened the reply and McLoughlin set the tone with 17 off 16 balls before being caught. Mihir then joined Brown in the biggest stand of the day, 53, but when both were dismissed in the space of four balls, Brown for a creditable 28 and Mihir for a top score of 29, things took a downward turn and wickets began to tumble as batsmen struggled to maintain a rate of seven runs an over and seven quality players capitulated for the addition of a further 27 runs giving the Wigan based side victory by 48 runs with two overs to spare.

Ian Critchley finished with 6 for 28 from 9 and Alan Fox 3 for 37 from 15.

Atherton's match was one of only two games to beat the rain on the day, the other being at Walshaw where the champions elect took 14 points from their drawn game with Lostock.

This weekend Atherton play a double header, away to Elton on Saturday while entertaining Blackrod on Sunday.