ADLINGTON, Walshaw and Edgworth will join double-winners Atherton and runners-up Flixton in next year’s Lancashire Knockout competition.

Adlington secured third place with a four-wicket victory over Walshaw, who dropped from fourth to fifth while Edgworth convincingly won their duel with Bury – a result that meant the men from Radcliffe Road had to settle for seventh place in their debut season.

Edgworth were good value for their win, with Jaco Fourie (75) and Mike Watkinson (47) making the big contributions in a total of 216-7.

That proved too hot for Bury in the face of some impressive bowling by the Watkinsons – Liam taking 5-66 while his father, Mike, chipped in with 3-56 – although skipper Simon Belston did not seem to have too many problems on his way to a top score of 67. Bury were eventually bowled out for 155.

Majid Majeed, who has been so influential for Adlington, was the cornerstone of their home victory over Walshaw, taking 5-35 as the visitors were bowled out for 134, then top scoring with an unbeaten 65.

It might have been a different story had Walshaw built on a high-scoring start in which big-hitting Danny Hornby rattled up 26 quick runs. With Bury losing and Standish also just falling short in sixth place, Walshaw had the consolation of knowing they had already done enough to book their Lancs KO spot.

The Wigan side ended the season with an emphatic 151-run victory over Golborne with skipper Sam Heeley playing the lead role.

He top scored with an unbeaten 112 – his first century in senior cricket – and was partnered for much of the innings by Dave Bowden (62) as Standish posted a formidable 276-5.

And it was Heeley (4-20) and Bowden (5-3 from nine overs) who did the damage with the ball as Golborne were skittled for 125, Jake Waterworth (52) the only one of the visiting batsmen to offer much resistance.

Blackrod finished a difficult season on a winning note, albeit by just a single run at Elton.

A home win looked on the cards when Blackrod were bowled out for just 91, Kieran Grundy taking 3-24.

But Tush de Zoysa, whose performances have helped the men from Vicarage Road finish with a flourish, struck again, taking 6-32 as Elton, who looked set fair with Mark Goddard (32no) at the crease, fell short.

Little Hulton put in a fine all-round team performance to end the season on a winning note at Darcy Lever.

Pro Ali Zaidi (58), Roger Humah (33) and Mo Saiyed (31) helped the visitors to a total of 186-9 – Dominic Gavin (4-47) and James Hill (4-45) working hard to keep them in check. Then Saiyed (3-10) led a tidy bowling attack that restricted Darcy to 129 in reply – James Hill’s unbeaten 37 the best of the home batsmen.

Atherton ended the season with a predictable 20th win out of 26 games at Daisy Hill in a contest that had nothing riding on it.

The teams shook up their batting orders yet there remained a serious edge to the match – especially when Daisy had Atherton reeling at 87-7 as Stephen Hodgkinson bowled his way to figures of 7-58.

But skipper Paul Walsh, batting at nine, rescued the situation for the champions and Cross Cup winners, hitting 43 to haul the total to 172.

Runs came freely in Daisy’s reply, Kieran Farrell top-scoring with 33 and captain for the day Paul Atherton 26 not out. But so did wickets with Neil Bannister, known more for his batting, taking 5-23 and Ian Nuttall, who passed the wicketkeeping gloves to Jamar Griffith, taking 2-38 as the home side were bowled out for 126 with Griffith taking a caught behind to wrap up the victory.

Flixton, already assured of runners-up spot, drafted in Chris Perrin from Littlebrough as deputy pro and hit on a winner as they romped to an 86-run victory at home to Astley and Tyldesley.

Perrin, batting at five, top-scored with 117 in the Manchester side’s total of 251, then took 5-15 as the Gin Pit men were bowled out for 165 – a total that owed much to number 11 Paul Finch (45no).

RESULTS

Adlington 135-6, Walshaw 134. Adlington won by 4 wkts.
Astley & Tyldesley 165, Flixton 251. Flixton won by 86 runs.
Bury 155, Edgworth 216-7. Edgworth won by 61 runs.
Darcy Lever 129, Little Hulton 186-9. Little Hulton won by 57 runs.
Daisy Hill 126, Atherton 172. Atherton won by 46 runs.
Elton 90, Blackrod 91. Blackrod won by 1 run.
Standish 276-5, Golborne 125. Standish won by 151 runs.