TOP of the table Walshaw entertained second place Atherton in what was billed as Match of the Day in the Bolton Association.

Walshaw won the toss and invited Atherton to bat.

Tight bowling allied to keen fielding restricted the visitors to 141 for 2 after the allotted 48 overs. When walshaw batted again runs were difficult to come by but a quick fire 64 from Brett Collins, ably supported by professional Jon Fielding, Danny Hornby and Mark Forrest put Walshaw on their way and victory was sealed by two consecutive boundaries from coach Barry Hamilton.

The win earned Walshaw 20 points and increased their lead at the top of the league.

It summed up the performance that in recoginition of the excellent teamwork and spirit within the side that this week's Man of the Match award at walshaw went to the whole team!

AN excellent batting performance from Abs Riaz put Elton firmly in the driving seat of their overs reduced Bolton Association match.

Hosts Darcy Lever were delighted to reduce the Leigh Laners to 12 for 2 off five overs but skipper John Pemberton and Riaz were to spread the fielders far and wide.

Pemberton hit 44 at a run-a-ball before being caught off Gavin and Howard Pawson soon followed, leaving the way for Riaz to boss the home attack as he scored a blistering 89 off only 56 deliveries.

Five sixes and five fours flew off his bat as a succession of batting partners came and went and when they closed on 190 for 9 Elton had set a daunting target.

Mike Hall rocked Darcy Lever still further back on their heels when he reduced them to 20 for 2, Peter Kay got a wicket with his first delivery and then Hall went on to take the next four to end with an impressive 6 for 30.

With one over remaining the home side were 98 for 7 and skipper Pemberton brought himself on, not having bowled for nearly half the season.

The tactic worked for he got the wicket he wanted to leave Darcy teetering at 105 for 8.

WALSHAW v ATHERTON

ATHERTON

C Partington st Harris b Hamilton...21

P Walsh c Hamilton b Collins...10

G. Dimery not out...65

P West not out...36

Extras...9

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Total (for 2) 141

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48 overs

Fielding 22-6-62-0 Collins 12-5-30-1 Hamilton 14-3-43-1

WALSHAW

A Caunce c Williamson b Dimery...3

G Dyson c Brown b Dimery...15

R Faulkner c Dimery b Walsh...2

B Collins c&b Brown...64

Fielding c Brown b Dimery...13

D Hornby lbw Walsh...15

M Forrest lbw Dimery...13

J Fielding b Walsh...1

A Harris not out...0

B Hamilton not out...9

Extras...7

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Total (for 8) 142

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44.4 overs

S Walsh 15.4-6-27-3 G. Dimery 18-3-53-4 Charleston 4-0-20-0 Greenhough 4-0-20-0 Brown 3-0-16-1

DARCY LEVER v ELTON

ELTON

H. Pawson run out...18

P. Kay c Shar b Cruickshanks...5

C. Hall b Cruickshanks...0

J. Pemberton c Harper b Gavin...44

A. Riaz b Bashir...89

M. Pettit b Gavin...1

M. Duxbury lbw Bashir...4

M. Hall run out...6

A. Holden b Bashir...1

A. Lomax not out...6

A. Amin not out...1

Extras...15

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Total (for 9) 190

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33 overs

Bashir 10-1-47-3; Stocks 7-1-37-0; Cruickshanks 10-1-56-2; Gavin 6-0-40-2.

DARCY LEVER

Fawcett c Riaz b Hall...3

Harper c Riaz b Hall...20

Bashir c M. Hall b C. Hall...4

Shaw c Lomax b Kay...17

Stockton b Hall...1

Stocks st Pawson b Hall...21

Fearn c Riaz b Hall...0

Smethurst b Pembertson...26

Cruickshanks not out...0

Gavin not out... 1

Extras...12

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Total (for 8) 105

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33 overs

Holden 7-1-28-0; C. Hall 16-3-30-6; P. Kay 8-1-23-1; J. Pemberton 2-0-13-1.