GOLBORNE’S Association promotion hopes are high, according to captain Tom Pantak, given they have their destiny in their own hands.

They secured a landslide home victory over Darcy Lever on Saturday, by 182 runs defending 317, to leave them third on 55 points with five games remaining.

They are two points behind second-placed Adlington and four behind a table-topping Little Lever side who have lost their last two outings, including Saturday’s trip to Blackrod. Tonge are fourth on 49 points and Astley Bridge fifth on 48.

“We play Little Lever away this weekend,” said Pantak.

“Then we have Astley Bridge at home and Adlington away. We’re playing teams around us, so it’s in our own hands.

“I’m only looking up at the minute. As far as I’m concerned it’s between us, Adlington and Little Lever for going up.”

Having elected to bat, the hosts racked up 316-7, led by 60 for opener Ciaran Vesey and 82 from professional Adnan Raees.

Pantak hit a late and brisk 49 not out.

In reply, Darcy were bowled out for 134 inside 37 overs as Shahid Mahboob and Moeen Saiyed took three wickets apiece.

Pantak said: “We had the big partnerships early on, allowing us to go after them at the end. The way we built it, it was the most ideal way of going about things.

“We then had a tight start with the ball.

“I think they were 20 after 10 overs and 40-odd after 20. From then on, it was pretty straightforward.

“I’d say it was our best performance of the season, and it’s a good time to do it.”

Golborne’s hopes of beating Little Lever have been raised by their back-to-back defeats against Heaton and Blackrod, the latter by three wickets after being bowled out for 110 on Saturday.

Blackrod pro Thushendra de Zoysa opened the bowling and claimed 5-35 from 18 overs to bowl the visitors out in 35.

In reply, Blackrod slipped to 76-7 as new-ball seamer Curtis Anderton claimed four wickets.

But wicketkeeper Zak Burton dominated an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 38 with Charlie Fletcher, scoring 24 to secure the win in the 37th over.

Fletcher, who finished six not out, plays age-group handball for Great Britain.

Sixth-placed Blackrod have now beaten Golborne and Little Lever in the last month.

Captain Joey Pryle said: “I said we’d struggle early on due to player availability. But we have a couple of players back, and we’ve started to turn a corner.

“Realistically, we can aim for third place, which would be good.”

Pryle praised his side’s urgency in the field and went on: “Little Lever didn’t do themselves any justice because they came out trying to blitz everything.

“Apart from Josh Gent, they didn’t really build an innings.

“At Little Lever, where it’s small, they can get away with it.

“But our place is much bigger.

“At tea, I said ‘Although we’ve bowled them out for 110, they’re not top of the league for nothing’.

“Tushy (de Zoysa) failed, but it was really pleasing that a couple of the younger lads stepped up. Zak and Charlie were superb.”