ATHERTON CC stormed into the semi-final of the Bolton Association Cross Cup with a resounding victory over Spring View in their replayed second round tie on Sunday.

Again Atherton took the field with 11 amateurs - all products of the club's junior set-up.

Spring View won the toss and put Atherton in. That looked the right decision when they had Atherton tottering on 44-4 after 11 overs.

Excellent catch

Openers Mark Parry and Paul McLoughlin were bowled for seven and five respectively; Dave Charlson, after racing to 17 from 11 balls, was caught and bowled and Phil West fell to an excellent one-handed catch by Ian Critchley for four.

Enter Phil Wakefield and Paul Walsh who took the score to 109 by the 25th over. Wakefield will consider himself unlucky to be adjudged lbw for 24 when going well.

Long serving Paul Brown joined Walsh and the pair more than doubled the score, taking it to 220 by the 42nd over at which point Brown was caught for 54 with four 4s and two 6s. Walsh went on to complete his highest score for the club, 79. It was an innings of great maturity and confidence and contained 10 4s, of which four came in succession.

The remaining four wickets pushed the score to an most unlikely 252-9 at the end of the 50th over.

The Spring View wickets were shared by four bowlers, Tony Kelly picking up 4-32. Pro Tony Critchley held five catches.

The Spring View reply got underway against some steady bowling from Ian Nuttall and Anthony Williams. They had reached 21 in the eighth over when skipper Ron Clews pulled a master-stroke, replacing Nuttall with Walsh.

Paid dividends

The youngsters' leg spin immediately paid dividends having opener Tony Kelly caught by Wakefield in his first over. Fellow opener Nigel Geary was his next victim, this time caught by Parry and when West, patrolling the square leg boundary, brilliantly caught the dangerous Paul Matthews off the bowling of Williams, Atherton were on their way.

A further three wickets for Walsh reduced the Wigan side to 85-7 before a partnership of 40 between Alan Green and Ian Murphy prolonged the innings. Wakefield (2-16) and Charlson (1-7) polished off View to give Atherton a massive 111-run winning margin with 12 overs to spare.

Atherton will now travel to Walshaw in the semi-final on June 30.

This weekend Atherton have two league fixtures against Darcy Lever at home on Saturday before travelling to Standish on Sunday.