By Mikael McKenzie

LOSTOCK recorded a narrow victory away to Golborne on Saturday thanks to a polished display from bowler Tom Sheen.

Johann Brohier hit 61 as the hosts opened up with a score of 153-9 – Sheen causing the damage with the ball bowling 5-25.

David Flanagan (38) and Rob Holgate (35no) led the reply but the bowling attack of Brohier (3-34) and Jack Kidman (3-53) ensured a tight finish and Lostock squeezed over the line with one wicket remaining.

Daisy Hill came within a whisker of snatching their third win of the season but had it taken away at the last minute by Blackrod.

Joe Pryle opened the scoring for the Vicarage Road side with 27 – but that was as good as it got as 17-year-old Daniel Robinson (4-11) and Abid Younas (4-68) dismissed them for 93.

Blackrod needed their bowlers to step up to the plate if they had any chance of securing the points and they unduly came to the rescue. The reliable bowling attack of Thusendra de Zoysa (6-32) and Matthew Stears (4-47) had their opponents seen off for 89 – four runs short of the target.

Elsewhere, Sam Heeley starred with the bat and ball for Standish as they inflicted a heavy defeat on third-bottom Westleigh.

Robert Entwistle struck a half-century but his team-mates failed to put any significant runs on the board and succumbed to the bowling prowess of Ben Dowling (4-36) and Heeley (5-50).

Skipper Heeley turned his hand to the bat and scored 65 not out, which was backed up by Australian Luke Kennedy who hit 50no to secure an eight-wicket victory inside 29 overs.

Luke Perry hit his third century of the season as Flixton defeated in-form Atherton.

Perry’s latest century ensured he rose to the top of the run-scoring chart with 594 runs.

Deputy professional Usman Tariq added 74 to post a tough target of 253-9. The score was even more impressive as they were up against the highest wicket-taker in the league in Jamar Griffith who bowled 5-73. Harry McManus also took 4-68.

Paul Walsh top-scored in reply with 29 but Alan Embleton (5-31) impressed with the ball and dismissed Atherton for 158.

Matthew Norvall’s six-wicket haul secured all the points for Swinton Moorside against Worsley.

Schaughn Van Greunen (29), Paul Smith (36) and Sanjay Patel (29no) all scored high but their total was limited to 146 thanks to the impressive bowling of Norvall (6-64).

James Wade led the response with 39 and Brad Palmer added 34no as Swinton recorded the win to the loss of only five wickets, of which three were taken by James Kilner (4-70).

Adlington ended a bad run of form with a victory against Astley and Tyldesley.

A&T skipper Jimmy Cutt starred with the bat scoring 85no and Alex Heaton added 29no to post 196-4.

Iain Critchley (57) struck a half-century in reply and professional Majid Majeed chipped in with 30. The bowling attack of Jordan O’Malley and Cutt – who took two wickets apiece – failed to cut short the response as Adlington won with the loss of five wickets.