BLACKROD moved to within a point of the top two in the Association Division with a 69-run win at home to Daisy Hill.

Daisy stay at the top of the table but Atherton’s trouncing of Tonge took them level on points, with Blackrod a point behind.

Thushendra De Zoysa capitalised on three drops to make an unbeaten 116 in Blackrod’s 229-9, Daisy Hill mustering 160 in reply.

And Daisy captain Steve Chilton admits his side were deservedly beaten on Saturday as they let the chance to maintain their outright lead slip through their fingers.

“We just didn’t turn up,” he said. “We had a real off-day and let our bowlers down in the field.

“We dropped Tush (De Zoysa), their pro, on about 64 and he went on to more or less double his tally, which was the difference in the end result.

“We dropped Tush three times, he’s a seasoned pro and you can’t afford to give him chances because he’s good enough to punish you and he did what he’s paid to do.

“Neil Tong and Imtiaz Cheema came in at 10 and 11, Cheema because he split his hand when he was fielding, and made 33 and 21, but it had been tough going. People got starts, Sam Pendlebury batted for an age for his 26 and Steve Hodgkinson grafted to make 24, but it was in the field where we didn’t do well.

“It was purely an off-day, it’s what happens in amateur cricket but you can’t get away with it against the top sides.”

After welcoming Little Hulton this Saturday Daisy Hill will complete the season at Adlington, but it is elsewhere that their destiny could be decided, as Atherton will host Blackrod on the final day.

“With two games to go we are at the top,” added Chilton. “It was a shame about Saturday but we’ll put it behind us and we won’t be too down-hearted.

“Promotion is our main aim, we feel we deserve to be in the top division. Silverware for the title would be a nice added bonus but promotion is key.

“We won’t be counting our chickens thoughh, this league is too competitive for that.”

Atherton were emphatic winners with Muhammad Baig accounting for 70 of their 220 runs. Baig took two wickets in Tonge’s reply but leading the way was Matthew Gallagher who finished with figures of 8-25 from 12 overs.

Elsewhere, Astley Bridge beat hosts Adlington by 50 runs.

Jack Shovelton took 5-25 as Adlington bowled out Astley for 155 but with eight batsmen out for single-figure scores they were dismissed for just 105.

Darcy Lever recovered from having their top-three batsmen all out for ducks, limping to 7-3 but rallying to make 175 against Little Lever. Shaukat Patel then took 5-42 to limit the Little Lever response to 118 all out.

Golborne’s Ciaran Vesey made 83 as they scored 215 at home to Little Hulton, for whom Tajamul Khan took 5-57.

Although Khan and Asim Bhatti then made 40 each, no one else reached double figures and they were bowled out for 136.

Results

Adlington 105 Astley Bridge 155-9, Astley Bridge won by 50 runs.

Atherton 220-8 Tonge 70, Atherton won by 150 runs.

Blackrod 229-9 Daisy Hill 160, Blackrod won by 69 runs.

Darcy Lever 175 Little Lever 118, Darcy Lever won by 57 runs.

Golborne 215 Little Hulton 136, Golborne won by 79 runs.