HORWICH RMI second XI retained the Birtwistle Cup with a one-wicket triumph at Westhoughton on Sunday.

Good knocks from skipper Mark Knowles (43) and Connor Dalton (33) helped them reach their target after Joe Settle (3-43) had helped restrict the hosts to 179-7 from their 45 overs.

The Howfeners won the toss and elected to bat, getting off to a good start by scoring five runs an over before losing their first wicket of Kai Hodgkiss who was trapped lbw by Settle in the eighth over.

Fellow opener Matt Trow then fell to a great one-handed catch in the gulley by veteran Andy Taylor.

A couple of further wickets followed with Westhoughton four down in the sixties but skipper Arun Pindoria (41) and Jamie McAndrew (40) rebuilt the innings and helped push the target up before losing their wickets.

Horwich's innings followed a similar pattern with quick early runs before Settle was caught behind off Jason Dunning and he was quickly followed back to the pavilion by three more batsmen.

At 63-4, Horwich needed a partnership and this was provided by Dalton and Knowles who put on a partnership of 49 for the fifth wicket before Dalton was bowled by Trow.

With Horwich well ahead on run-rate Westhoughton needed wickets as Knowles started to attack the bowling.

He put on another 51 with Andy Hancock as the score moved to 163-6.

After the skipper's wicket fell to Simon Ashcroft (4-25), more tumbled as Ashcroft was ably-assisted by Oliver Dixon (2-23).

And with just two runs required for victory, Taylor was run out by a direct hit from Jason Dunning from deep.

The scores were tied but Horwich scrambled home with two overs remaining to win the cup for the third time in four years.