ASTLEY Bridge may be hitting form at just the right time in the Association’s promotion race.

David Cryer’s men beat fellow challengers Golborne by 40 runs on the road at Simpsons Fields as they successfully defended their imposing total of 241-6.

Bridge won their third game in four, with the other abandoned, to jump into the all-important second spot with their ninth win from 15 games.

In a thrilling conclusion to the race for Premiership cricket in 2019, they sit four points clear of Adlington and Tonge in third and fourth and five clear of Golborne in fifth.

Their recent form followed a run of three defeats in four from mid-June to late last month, which threatened to put the kibosh on their summer.

Bridge can now look forward to playing Tonge at home on Saturday and leaders Little Lever, who now look home and hosed with a 10-point lead, at home in the final round of the fixtures. Sandwiched in between, they travel to Darcy Lever.

“This weekend is clearly a big game against a decent team,” said seam bowling skipper Cryer, who played a significant part in Saturday’s win.

“But we’re not really thinking too far ahead.

“There are still plenty of twists and turns to come, I’m sure of it.”

Astley Bridge were invited to bat by Golborne skipper Tom Pantak, but an away win owed a huge debt of gratitude to a superb century from Sri Lankan professional Denuwan Dadallage.

He hit 101 off 84 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, to help advance from 52-2 in the 22nd over.

He was backed up mainly by Krishnan Patel’s 63 off 55 from number six, while opener Kai Hodgkiss hit 31. With the innings in the balance at 104-4 in the 33rd over, Dadallage and Patel shared 128 for the fifth wicket to put the hosts under pressure.

Dadallage missed the start of the season at Sharples Park due to visa problems, but he has made up for lost time with three hundreds in all cricket.

In the Golborne chase, they lost wickets at regular and important times to hamstring their chances of overhauling their 242 target, with each of a five-man attack striking with the ball.

When pro Adan Raees fell for 32, they were 91-4 in the 22nd over.

Jake Waterworth top-scored with 50 off 67 balls from number six, but it was not enough.

When he fell, Golborne were 186-7 in the 45th over, needing 56 more.

Cryer claimed 2-55 from 11 overs, while new-ball partner Joseph Ducker also took two wickets, as did Yasir Rashid (2-28 from 12 overs). Rashid snared the big wicket of Raees.

Irfan Puda claimed 3-68 from 18 overs, while Dadallage also struck in his only over.

Cryer said: “It definitely wasn’t a comfortable win. They’re a very good side, and the momentum switched regularly.

“The partnership between Krishnan and the pro was key. They were both very impressive.

“We could have bowled a lot better, especially early on, but we kept taking wickets.

“Yasir and Puda bowled really well.”