LOSTOCK produced one of the outstanding results in Bolton League cricket this summer by beating title hopefuls Bradshaw in a thriller at Chew Moor Lane on Saturday.

Seam bowler Rob Holgate deputised as captain for Geoff Earle, attending a family wedding, to oversee a seven-run win with five balls remaining as they defended a 196 target, including eight needed off the last over.

Another seamer Oliver Turner was their hero with 4-11 from 5.1 overs at the death as the hosts survived a late assault from wicketkeeper Chris Evans (40 not out) to secure their second win and move 13 points clear of second-bottom Atherton.

It was a win to rival Astley Bridge’s Hamer Cup shock against Walkden last Sunday.

“It was a brilliant game,” said regular vice captain Holgate.

“Afterwards, a few people were saying it was a great advertisement for the Bolton League with how competitive it was.

“We’re one of those teams that when a few players fire, we are capable of beating anyone. It’s just that those days aren’t often enough yet.

“To have stepped in as captain, I’m quite proud to have won like that.”

Lostock won the toss and posted 195-9. Professional Brad Williams top-scored with 57 – the only half century of the match – and Peter Flanagan added 30.

“It looked quite a good wicket. We’d played on it on Friday night and scored 177 in a T20 win against Blackrod, so we knew there were runs in it,” continued Holgate.

“We built some nice partnerships, and Brad is bedding into that role of allowing others to bat around him superbly.

“They took wickets at crucial times, and we probably could have got another 20 or 30.

"But we were quite happy and knew we were in the game.

“Then, after we got a couple of early wickets, they had a good partnership between the pro and their overseas Australian (Mohammad Saad and Cameron McPhan, who shared 62 to advance from 21-2). We struggled to break that.

“It was on a bit of a knife edge at that stage, but they never got ahead of the rate because we bowled tightly.”

New-ball pair Dave Flanagan and Tom Sheen both claimed three wickets, while Holgate, another seamer, was miserly without striking.

“Tom (3-32 from 12) bowled brilliantly and had one of his best games,” said Holgate. “Dave also bowled well, but Olly was outstanding.

“He just bowled a good line and length, and it was doing a bit off the seam.

“With us getting the run-rate up, it put pressure on them. Olly plays semi pro football and doesn’t play that much. So for him to contribute like that, we really needed it.

“Chris Evans played very well. He hit the final ball of the penultimate over off Dave for six over cover. They went from needing 14 to eight. There were a few nerves then.

“But when the final wicket went, we all jumped on Olly and mauled him.”

This is Lostock’s second year at Chew Moor Lane, where they only lost twice in all competitions last season and have been beaten once there this.

Bradshaw have now won three and lost three.