Walshaw win to keep Darcy Lever at bay (From The Bolton News)

Walshaw win to keep Darcy Lever at bay

WALSHAW displayed their all-round strengths to keep a tight grip on the Association leadership.

Their 42-run win over Astley and Tyldesley was achieved by a solid attacking batting display dominated by Jason Whittaker and Rob Faulkner, before pro Jonathan Fielding wiped out the opposition with a six-wicket bowling performance. Whittaker hit 82 and Faulkner 83 not out in a total of 222-4, while A & T were dismissed for 178.

The defeat heaped more misery on an A & T side that started the season winning four of their first five matches, but have since won only one.

Pro Robin Morris is working hard, taking four wickets in the match and hitting 47, while Simon Nicklin was A & Ts other main contributor with an unbeaten 49.

Second placed Darcy are not giving up the title chase and they achieved an effortlesss win over Daisy Hill. Nick Fawcett was the man of the match taking 6-35 as Daisy tumbled to 113 all out, before hitting 40 in Darcy's reply of 114-2.

Spring View picked up a two wicket win at Atherton after John Broad and John Green each took three wickets. Paul Walsh (55) and Paul McLoughlin (51) were Atherton's top scorers in a total of 178, and although pro Galwalkar produced a 6-71 bowling performance, Spring View were always up with the pace following pro Arindam Sarkar's 58.

Elton continue to impress as they beat Blackrod by 59 runs, despite an unbeaten century from Craig Smith.

Elton totalled 234-6 with Damien Keegan top scoring with 85 and John Pemberton 62 not out.

Pro Dexter Fitton also hit a half century but his performance with the ball was the telling factor. He took 6-60 as Blackrod were all out for 175, Smith scoring 111 not out.

At one stage it looked doubtful whether he would achieve three figures as wickets fell regularly, but number ten batsman, 13 years old Matthew Wignall, came in to block one end while Smith scored all but one run in a partnership of 40, and then when Elton achieved the breakthrough, Mitchell Swindlehurst played a similar role to enable Smith to reach his century.

Man of the moment Chinthaka Jayasinghe failed to hit his fifth century of the season but he did manage 74 in Clifton's 20-run win at Golborne.