TITLE-CHASING Walshaw were frustrated by Lostock at home on Saturday in their quest for maximum points.

After losing the toss and batting first they scored 208 for 4 declared in 43 overs.

The batting was led by a quickfire 77 from Bret Collins, ably supported by skipper Rob Faulkner who hit an unbeaten 62.

Professional Jon Fielding and Danny Hornby chipped in with useful knocks of 26 and 17 not out respectively.

Lostock never looked remotely like reaching this target despite being given five extra overs by the home side.

Although they had the visitors 5 for 3 at one stage Walshaw were unable to bowl them out and after batting for 53 long overs Lostock reached 96 for the loss of 8 wickets.

The match at second placed Atherton on Sunday was a different matter altogether.

Put in to bat the home side made 180 for 8 from their 48 overs.

Pick of the bowlers was Barry Hamilton who, after bowling 7 overs for 30 runs without taking a wicket, came back later in the innings to bowl 8 overs and take six wickets for 28!

Chasing such a total was always going to be a daunting task but the innings was built around the skipper with Harris, Fielding and Collins all making useful contributions.

In the end, with three run out decisions going against them in the all out effort to get the runs, Walshaw fell two runs short of the required total and had to settle for the draw which keeps them eleven points clear of Atherton at the top of the table.