JAMAR Griffith’s phenomenal eight-wicket haul obliterated Standish’s battling line up as Atherton recorded a three-wicket victory against their Bolton Association counterparts, writes Mikael McKenzie.

Israr Ul Haq top-scored for Standish with 11, but the unstoppable Griffith bowled 8-15 inside 18 overs which included eight maidens – to remove the hosts for 58.

Atherton made hard work of the reply as Ben Dowling (4-28) and Sam Heeley (2-31) left the visitors feeling a little uncomfortable on 28-5.

But up stepped James Hatton who pushed his side over the line scoring 23 not out.

The brilliant bowling display from Griffith drew praise from opposition captain Heeley, who described the Barbadian as “unplayable.”

He added: “From ball one it was turning and twisting all over the place for him. The wicket certainly suited him and he was unplayable.”

Elsewhere, Lostock breezed past bottom club Darcy Lever to win by nine wickets.

Gareth Hopkinson top-scored for the Hacken Lane side with 12 but the bowling of David Flanagan (3-13), Tom Sheen (3-20) and Simon Hanson (2-11) dismissed the hosts for 54.

And Lostock wasted no time in replying as Matthew Leach struck 36 and Hanson scored 14 not out to secure the victory.

Fourth placed Astley and Tyldesley recorded a resounding eight-wicket win at home to Blackrod.

Thusendra de Zoysa scored 25 early on for the hosts, before Zak Burton (40) and Matthew Stears (28) continued the attack in the middle-order.

Paul Bennett (3-39), Nathan Johnston (2-35), Jordan O’Malley (2-40) and Jimmy Cut (2-58) attempted to keep the score down but Blackrod posted a respectable 180-9.

In response captain Cutt scored 67 and Australian Travis Wordsworth notched 71 not out as they led the way with the bat to come back with the loss of only two wickets.

Westleigh are still searching for their first win of the season after suffering a heavy defeat to Bury.

Neil Tong took four wickets and Ashen Silva and Matt Smalley bowled three wickets each to dismiss the hosts for 39.

Sri Lankan Silva then turned his hand to the bat and struck 20 not out, and Mumtaz Mirza scored 17 not out to secure a nine-wicket victory.

Adlington secured a fantastic victory against high-flying Swinton Moorside.

Pro Majid Majeed (30) and Steven Rawlinson (28no) led the way with the bat despite the best efforts of Matthew Norvall (5-58) to post 156-8.

Captain Jonathan Herreran (30) and James Wade (28) weighed in with healthy scores for Swinton but they faced a resilient opponent in Majeed, who showed his all-round class when he picked up the ball and bowled 5-15.

Iain Critchley (2-37) and Jack Shovelton (2-30) took four wickets between them as the visitors’ reply was capped at 109.

Worsley climbed to seventh in the league table after seeing off Golborne by eight wickets.

Johann Brohier top-scored with 22 of Golborne’s 92 total, but the star of the show was Schaughn Van Greunen who bowled 6-4. Michael Gould also removed 3-31.

Nathan Rushton batted 39 not out and Paul Smith finished 40 not out as the hosts replied with eight wickets to spare. Jack Kidman bowled both of the wickets for 18 runs.