PROFESSIONAL Simon Hanson was the hero for Lostock as his last-minute wicket recorded a much-needed victory against Standish.

Peter Flanagan got the runs rolling hitting 75, and Simon Hanson added 25 as Lostock were bowled out for 188. Sam Heeley did most of the damage with the ball taking 5-73.

Standish looked dead and buried in their reply as they posted 76-8 – with David Flanagan (4-51), Tom Sheen (3-20) and Hanson (3-45) all impressing with the ball.

But the noble effort of Zulqarnain Khan (95no) pushed the game right to the wire and enabled Hanson to become the hero as he stepped up and bowled the final wicket in the final over to secure a nervy victory.

Table-toppers Edgworth increased their lead at the top of the table to 13 points following a nine-wicket thrashing of Darcy Lever.

Josh Fallows was the main threat with the ball as he bowled 3-34 to dismiss Darcy for 140. Mike Norris top-scoring with 44.

Rain reduced Edgworth’s target to 135 with the loss of two overs – and it was seen off with ease as Chris Read (75no) and Simon Lord (37no) batted their side to victory.

Darren Foy led Walshaw to an impressive victory against Worsley to remain in second-place and hot on the heels of Edgworth.

Foy struck 93 and Danny Holland hit 36no as Walshaw posted 241. Mike Gould (3-70) and David Purcell (3-59) were the notable bowlers.

Tom Murphy (4-24) and Danny Hornby (4-41) produced brilliant bowling figures to hinder the Worsley response and Nicholas Goldsmith top-scored with 30 as his side were all out for 129.

Atherton are up to fourth in the table after a win at home to Astley and Tyldesley enabled them to leapfrog their opponents.

Dave Harrison (36) and Aaron Booth (32) scored high as A&T posted 154. Joshua Gilluley the only bowler of note taking 3-34.

Rain limited Atherton’s innings and revised the target to 142 – in which Callum Barlow (58) wasted no time at all chasing it down. Paul Walsh added 26 late on as Jimmy Cutt (4-33) attempted to stop the reprisal but the target was reached with three wickets to spare.

Little Hulton against Golborne could easily have been re-named ‘the Shaukat Patel versus Jake Waterworth match’ as the two went head-to-head with the bat and ball.

First Patel scored 42 as his Little Hulton side were all out for 143 – mostly down to the bowling of Waterworth (6-21).

Then Waterworth led his side’s reply top-scoring with 22 – in which Patel replicated his opponents bowling by also taking six wickets for 30 runs.

The only separating factor between the two stallions on the day was that Patel was able to call upon the help of Moin Sayieed, who bowled 4-9 to ensure Little Hulton won by 76 runs after the target was revised to 139.

Blackrod recorded the narrowest of wins at home to Adlington.

Majid Majeed’s five-wicket haul helped dismiss the hosts for 112. Ben King also bowled 3-27. Jack Southworth was the highest scorer with 28.

Iain Critchley hit 29 in response but with no other big scorers in the side the visitors fell three runs short of the target as Thusendra de Zoysa (4-27) and Joe Speak (3-35) dismissed them for 109.