DAISY Hill are hoping their nail biting one-wicket win at Bradshaw on Saturday can be the springboard for a successful fight against relegation, according to their chairman Neil Redford.

Daisy’s second win of the season from their nine matches, chasing a target of 222, has put them within four points of third-bottom Lostock.

It was achieved with an over to spare and their last pair of Stephen Kenny – who ended up hitting the winning runs – and Neil Tong needing, nine from 2.1 overs following the dismissal of Pakistani professional Baber Agha for a superb run-a-ball 89.

Agha had a day to remember. This was his best performance in his first season in England.

A bowler who can bowl off-spin or seamers, he claimed 3-33 from 12 overs having come into the attack as first change.

The 33-year-old from Karachi claimed the key wickets of Brett Ernst, Chris Evans and Elliot Dargan, bowling captain Ernst for four and Dargan for 23.

Agha then anchored the chase with 10 fours and three sixes in his 89 – his best score for Daisy aside from a century in T20 cricket.

He came to the crease at 60-1 after 13 overs and departed at 213-9 late in the 48th.

“Baber’s been very good for us so far,” said Redford. “He’s mixed in with everyone and is a happy-go-lucky lad. It’s his first season in England, but he’s settled in really well. We’re delighted to have him.

“He’s a proper batsman, and I’m sure he’ll get better as the season goes on.”

Despite Agha’s starring role, there were plenty of other notable contributions against a Bradshaw side who have now lost six of their nine matches and are not completely free of relegation worries themselves despite being tipped as pre-season title contenders.

After the hosts elected to bat, new ball seamer Stephen Hodgkinson returned two wickets, including bowling pro Muhammad Saad, and Asif Fazal claimed the last three wickets with his off-spin to prevent late damage.

Fazal then opened the batting and hit 34, while partner Sam Pendlebury hit 18, wicketkeeper Richard Farnworth 27 from number four and captain Steve Chilton an important 10 down the order.

“Results have been frustrating, but this is a big boost,” said Redford, who believes life is rosy at St James Street.

“Confidence is still very high that we can get out of it at the bottom.

“When you’ve not been used to winning, it’s hard to get over the line.

“Last year, they were used to winning, but it’s just not happened this year, unfortunately. So this is a really important one for us. Hopefully we can build on it and get a few more wins on the board.”

Redford added: “We’re happy with the progression of the club in general. We amalgamated our juniors with Little Hulton because a lot of our lads go to Westhoughton, who are a big club. But we still have some good young players coming through.”