AFTER their eight-match winning streak ended at Todmorden last weekend, East Lancs got back to winning ways yesterday as they overcame Lowerhouse in a good contest at Liverpool Road.

The Blackburn side were in trouble as they batted first and were struggling at 79-6 until skipper Mark Bolton played a real captain’s innings to get his side out of the mess they found themselves in.

Bolton batted sensibly on his way to 53 as East Lancs got up to 192-9 – and that total was also boosted by a swashbuckling 28 not out at the end from Sid Patel.

The pair shared a 58-stand for the ninth wicket before Bolton finally holed out Lowerhouse were right in the game with Joe Beneduce and Fergus Bailey, who shared a 48-run stand.

Bailey looked like he was taking Lowerhouse home as he hit 63 before being run out as they pair tried to scramble a single through the wicket-keeper David Pearson in the last over.

They started that with seven required – and Lowerhouse finished four runs short in a dramatic conclusion as Pearson hit again to wrap up the match.

East Lancashire innings

DJ Pearson b Finch 21
M Bhada c Heal b Russell 18
Parchment c Martin b Russell 8
JPA Turner c Russell b Heal 25
PI Bolton c Martin b Russell 6
MC Lomas lbw b Russell 4
PB Kelly c Martin b Heal 1
MJ Bolton c Beneduce b Heal 53
AJ Clague c and b Heal 12
S Patel not out 28
NJ Turner not out 1
Extras 15
Total (9 wickets) 192
Russell 14 3 52 4, Finch 15 2 39 1, Heal 13 4 67 4, Beneduce 8 1 27 0.

Lowerhouse innings

JA Finch c Lomas b Parchment 19
J Whitehead b Patel 18
Heal c JPA Turner b Patel 16
C Bleazard b Parchment 16
BR Heap c Lomas b NJ Turner 0
F Bailey run out 63
CR Cottam c Clague b NJ Turner 9
J Beneduce c Pearson b Patel 18
SC Hope c Kelly b Patel 4
JJ Russell not out 0
J Martin run out 1
Extras 24
Total (10 wickets) 188
Patel 15 0 81 4, Parchment 19.5 3 47 2, NJ Turner 10 1 36 2, MJ Bolton 5 0 20 0.

East Lancashire won by 4 runs. Lowerhouse 5, East Lancashire 12.