ADLINGTON equalled last season’s total number of wins when they followed up last week’s opening-day success against Edgworth with a resounding nine-wicket victory over Golborne.

Chris Mulligan and deputy pro Usman Tariq posted a 161-run opening stand to bring the home side down to earth after they had themselves begun the season in style with victory over reigning champions Daisy Hill last week.

Golborne’s openers Rob Turnbull, 61, and Dale Tyrer, 60, put on a 130-run opening stand and pro Ben Slater hit 49. But Adlington passed the target of 214-6 with eight overs to spare, Mulligan hitting 67 and the Radcliffe pro, Tariq, hitting seven sixes and 14 fours in his unbeaten 127.

Walshaw, Elton and Darcy Lever have also won two out of two.

Walshaw opened with 219-6, Jamie Pilling 67, pro Jon Fielding 54 and Gavin Nicholl 44 not out, but were in trouble when Little Hulton needed 14 runs with two overs remaining.

A run out then handed Walshaw victory with Neil Jarvis finishing on 40 not out.

Two games into the season and six of the 12 clubs who are employing professionals are still waiting for their paid players to arrive.

Clubs are finding increasing problems getting clearance for foreign pros to come over is making employing English players a more attractive proposition.

One such pro is Elton’s Liam Jackson who took three of the five Blackrod wickets to fall before scoring an unbeaten 52 as the Bury men passed their target of 155 with seven wickets to spare.

John Ashworth made the most of being dropped twice early on by scoring 62 not out for Elton who recovered from 28-3.

Earlier, Thushendra de Zoysa and Chris Sanderson scored 47 and 43 not out, respectively, for Blackrod.

Darcy Lever look to be heading for another good season after a 49-run win against Atherton.

Jake Mitchell scored 74 and Nick Fawcett hit 50 as Darcy set a tough target of 237, David Baines taking 5-80.

Phil West was the game’s star, however, with 98 of Atherton’s 188-6.

Edgworth thumped Standish by 79 runs with Pete Walters hitting 57, Nick Kernick 46 and Guy Haynes 44 of their 245-6 which was too much for the Wigan side whose best performer was Stephen Knowles with 52. Andy McIlroy took 6-29 for Edgworth.

Jim Cutt scored 62 not out and captain Chris Bullock 60 as Astley and Tyldesley scored 153-2 to win by eight wickets against Flixton who had earlier been restricted by Simon Nicklin’s tight and clinical bowling which earned him 5-26.

Daisy Hill had Duncan Brooks’ unbeaten 32 to thank for reaching Spring View’s 185 (Chris Rudd 91, Dave Gornall 51) after they had been wobbling at 140-7. Iain Critchley took 5-48 for View.