Adlington became the latest victims of Spring View’s mid-season surge when they went down to a 43-run defeat in a rain-affected match at Platt Bridge.

Akbar Ur-Rehman was again the architect of the Wigan side’s victory, hitting 92 as they reached 217-6 in 46 overs.

Majid Majeed took 4-60 in 21 overs but far too many runs came from the bowlers at the other end for Adlington’s liking.

The weather, which forced three of the Association’s scheduled matches to be abandoned without a ball being bowled – including the top-of-the-table clash between Walshaw and Edgworth – intervened and third-placed Adlington were set a revised target of 193 to win in 39 overs.

But in the face of some impressive bowling by View’s David Gornall, who took 5-74 from 19 overs, they fell well short of the required total, losing eight wickets in the process, although they picked up three points for not being bowled out and getting to within 50 of the target.

Flixton did not hang around for long in a smash and grab raid on Little Hulton. Alton Beckford (5-19) and Steve Hammond (5-34) skittled the home side for 55 inside 22 overs before Beckford, evidently in a hurry to avoid any weather intervention, hit a breezy 42 as the Manchester men took just seven overs to knock off the runs without loss.

Blackrod beat the weather then convincingly beat Golborne at Vicarage Road.

Home pro Tushendra De Zoysa took 5-29 from 10 overs and Matthew Stears returned mean figures of 2-8 from 10.1 as bottom club Golborne were bowled out for 81 inside 37 overs.

Reigning champions Blackrod took 17.1 overs to rattle off the runs for the loss of just one wicket, Joey Pryle (44no) and Chris Readey (29no) steering them home to maximum points.

Astley and Tyldesley did a lot of mopping up to get their game on against Standish.

The 26-over contest finally got under way at 4.20pm, but their efforts went unrewarded as the visitors claimed a four-wicket win.

Sam Healey (5-59) and Arshad Khan (4-38) laid the foundation, restricting A&T to 100-9, before Usman Khushnood took over with some big hitting in a knock of 51, which included six sixes.

James Cutt (4-45) was the best of the home bowlers.