ATHERTON and Flixton can forget any thoughts of the title being a two-horse race.

Both were beaten on Saturday, Atherton losing a tense contest at Standish while Flixton lost a high-scoring duel at Bury, to give the chasing pack encouragement for the second half of the season.

Yet the big two still managed to pick up bonus points that could prove valuable in the final countdown, should the race go down to the wire.

Even in defeat, leaders Atherton managed to bank seven points – two for not being bowled out (their last pair were at the crease when the innings ended) and five for being within 10 points of their target.

Standish were not complaining though and took a prized scalp with their seventh win of the season, although that seemed unlikely with Atherton, chasing their 143-7, well on course at 110-1 with hit men James Damjanovski (43) and Jamar Griffith (33) looking comfortable.

But Griffith was run out and with Dave Bowden (5-46) leading the Standish attack, the game was back in the balance.

Atherton were still favourites when they needed 10 off the last three overs, but needing seven off the final four balls, and with their last pair at the crease, they blocked out the remaining deliveries.

Earlier Nick Smith (35) had top scored for Standish, Damjanowski being the pick of Atherton’s bowlers with 3-50. Big-hitting Flixton were out-gunned at Bury where almost 400 runs were scored for the loss off just six wickets.

The Manchester side looked on for a score well above 200 but, thanks to some tight bowling by home pro Kobuz Scholtz, who took 1-31 off 16 overs, they were restricted to a still respectable 193-4, Ashley Perry top scoring with 58 and Steve Hammond unbeaten on 41.

It was not enough, though, and Bury had match winners in Amar Baig and the irrepressible Scholtz who were both unbeaten on 78 and 56, respectively, as they crossed the line with two overs to spare.

Flixton picked up three bonus points – one for topping 175 runs and two for not being bowled out.

A 99-run partnership for the third wicket between Laim Watkinson and Guy Haynes put Edgworth on course for record-breaking figures when they reached 134-2 off the first 24 overs at Daisy Hill.

But the introduction of spinner Adil Ali put the brakes on. He took 5-25 from 12 overs and, once the visitors had lost Haynes for 30 then Watkinson (58) in quick succession, wickets fell at regular intervals on their way to 197-7.

Daisy made a steady start in reply and at 60-1 looked like making a game of it. Paul Atherton (30) and skipper Mark Wood (28) made a fist of it, but Jaco Fourie, who made 29 with the bat, snapped up five wickets for just 28 runs and together with Watkinson (3-58) bowled them out for 140 in just 39 overs as Edgworth ended the day 11 points behind Flixton in third place. Majid Majeed made another substantial contribution to the cause as Adlington claimed a four-wicket victory at home to Little Hulton.

Majeed took 4-36 as the visitors were bowled out for 103 – Calum Barlow top scoring with 30 – then hit a stubborn 48 not out as Adlington, pinned down by the impressive Shaukat Patel (5-37), clawed their way to their sixth win of the season.

Opener Chris Fenn carried his bat for an unbeaten 80 as Darcy Lever won the basement battle at home to beleaguered Blackrod.

Grant Cordin and Scot Burns took three wickets apiece as the visitors were restricted to 147-6 – Graeme Walsh (35) and and Tush De Zoysa (27) the pick of the batting.

Darcy needed just 36 overs to reach the target with Fenn anchoring the innings and young batting prospect Jake Cooper, going in at number four, scoring a tidy 44 to add to the 40 he scored the previous weekend.

Golborne’s decision to put Elton in first after winning the toss at Leigh Lane looked a wise move with the home side bowled out for a modest 141 inside 45 overs.

But the visitors’ bowlers had as much trouble as the Bury batsmen, conceding 37 extras, including 25 wides. It was hardly the biggest total for Elton to defend but with pro Chris Read (5-43) and Kieran Grundy, who had 3-1 at one stage and ended with 3-15, in such good nick at the moment, Golborne were bowled out for 87 in the 35th over.

Danny Hornby was the cornerstone of Walshaw’s 88-run win at Astley and Tyldesley.

Hornby hit 42 in the visitors’ total of 164 then took 5-42 as the home side, for whom Rob Glaysher and Jim Cutt took four wickets apiece, were skittled for 76. But his bowling performance was eclipsed by team-mate Brad Williams, who took 5-8 from seven overs.

SATURDAY RESULTS

Adlington 104-6, Little Hulton 103. Adlington won by 4 wkts.

Bury 194-2, Flixton 193-4. Bury won by 8 wkts.

Darcy Lever 151-5, Blackrod 147-6. Darcy Lever won by 5 wkts.

Daisy Hill 150, Edgworth 197-7. Edgworth won by 47 runs.

Elton 141, Golborne 87. Elton won by 54 runs.

Standish 143-7, Atherton 138-9. Standish won by 5 runs.

Astley & Tyldesley 76, Walshaw 164. Walshaw won by 88 runs.