Edgworth beat the weather - and Atherton (From The Bolton News)

Edgworth beat the weather - and Atherton

10:20am Monday 7th September 2009 in

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CRICKET: Edgworth moved into a Lancashire Knockout position with a dramatic last-over victory at Atherton.

In one of only two games to see any play in the Bolton Association, Edgworth grabbed the 13 winning points in a game which could have gone either way right to the end.

The victory moved Guy Haynes's men into fifth, two points above Elton and set up an intriguing battle between the two sides for the last Lancashire Knockout place.

The match was reduced to 26 overs by the wet conditions which ruled out the chance of a single ball being bowled in the games at Astley and Tyldesley, Blackrod, Daisy Hill, Elton and Little Hulton.

Atherton posted 106-7 with pro Daniel Salpietro scoring 25 and Phil West 22, Nigel Barlow taking 3-36.

Salpietro then took 4-52 as Edgworth went into the final over needing eight runs for victory with three wickets to spare.

A four and a three by Chris Locke from the first two balls eased the nerves and Edgworth won it with two balls to spare, denying Atherton who, not for the first time, came out second best in a close, hard-fought match.

Nick Kernick top scored with 34 for Edgworth with John Mills adding 24.

Captain Haynes praised opposite number Paul Walsh for getting the game played.

“Walshie was an absolute hero,” he said.

“He worked incredibly hard to get the game on and everyone at Edgworth appreciates the effort he put in.

“It took three or four hours to sort out a very large pool of water as well as get water off the square. It wasn’t perfect but together we decided to go ahead and it was a terrific game of cricket.

“Mark Williams batted really well for us. He came on late and probably didn’t make 20 but he kept up with the run rate and played a really important innings.

“I’m confident we can finish in the top five now, although the weather is a problem.”

Golborne lifted themselves up three places to fifth from bottom with an eight-wicket victory at Flixton.

It is a testament to the outstanding quality of the Flixton ground that the match was a full 48-over encounter.

Although they are struggling at the bottom in their second season in the Association, Flixton’s ground is the envy of the league with a bone hard pitch and county-sized covers giving them every chance of play when other grounds are saturated.

They are working on getting the team up to the same standards which could take time judging from their results.

They were all out for 166 which Golborne, who began the day second bottom, knocked off with eight overs to spare.

Dave Roberts got Golborne off to a good start by taking the wickets of both openers, and Dale Tyrer took five wickets before Golborne pro Ben Slater hit 75 and Rob Bennett 71 not out to seal victory.