IT seems Walshaw will not be beaten by anyone or anything at the moment after continuing their winning run in a rain-interrupted match at home to Elton on Saturday.

While heavy rain put paid to the entire Premier Division programme in the GMCL and accounted for the majority of Saturday's league programme, Walshaw battled hard to get their game on.

And the hard work put in by groundsmen and staff paid off after they beat Elton on run-rate.

Captain Mikey Watt said: "We had a team meeting at the start of the day when we decided to do everything in our power to get the game on.

"We knew that other matches in Division One would probably be abandoned so we had a chance of gaining an advantage over our title rivals.

"It was also a big game for us as we had not played Elton for a good few years and they are big local rivals.

"So it was great to get the game on and even better to get the result."

After a delayed start, the overs were initially reduced to 37, then 31 and eventually 26.

Walshaw batted first and managed to put on a total of 152-2, with Hussnain Abbas and Jack McClung finishing unbeaten on 59 and 34 respectively.

Rain continued to fall throughout the day and umpires finally drew the game to a close after Elton had completed the requisite 20 overs needed for a result to be called.

The visitors dug deep to finish on 93-5, with Harrison Smyth hitting 24 and Brock Balgowan 25 not out. But a tight bowling performance from Walshaw, including 2-32 from Stephen Holt, ensured Elton were always behind the run-rate as they sealed a fourth straight win in the league.

"It was a massive result for us as it kept that momentum going," added Watt.

"It was very hard to bat first, going to the crease not knowing how many overs the game was likely to be, but we stuck to our task then the bowlers did everything they could to make sure we kept Elton below the run-rate.

"The victory just added to the good feeling about the place, not just the first team but the whole club.

"We started the season with a new coach and a good squad and have also welcomed back a number of former pros to help with coaching at junior levels.

"There is a confidence building about the place and we just want to keep that going now."

Only two other matches featuring local sides were played to a finish, both in Division Two.

Edenfield lost by five wickets at Droylsden while Brooksbottom were narrowly beaten by one wicket at Stretford, although captain Richard Ernill was none too impressed by the umpires.

"We had Stretford at 80-8, chasing our 123-8 when the umpires advised me we were well behind on the over rate and if we didn't complete our overs or bowl them out within a certain time frame we would concede penalty runs, which would basically mean we would lose," said Ernill.

"As such we raced through our overs, barely pausing for breath between deliveries and running between overs.

"I also couldn't bowl one of my faster bowlers because the run ups would take too much time.

"After the game the umpires admitted they had got the rules wrong and there wouldn't have been any penalty runs.

"While the Stretford tailenders batted well, it certainly altered our tactics and approach to bowling those final overs and probably cost us the game.

"Defeat was hard to take having battled so well in the field, but ultimately we've got to close out games like this one, although we're certainly moving in the right direction."

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BURY set up a second-round Lancashire Knockout tie at home to GMCL Premier Division rivals Edgworth after kicking off their campaign with a four-wicket victory over Southport Trinity.

Mohammed Jehangir took 5-15 as the Radcliffe Road men restricted the visitors to 128-9.

Opener Akil Greenidge then hit 60 to kick off their reply in fine style and while Bury wobbled following his dismissal, Mohammed Jamal steadied the ship with an unbeaten 30 to get them over the line. Bury joined Premier Division leaders Prestwich in the next round after they claimed a 25-run victory at Greenfield to book a trip to Blackpool.

Lancashire League neighbours Ramsbottom also made it through, following a 100-run win against Knight Riders, and will entertain Walsden, while ELPM will host Settle after having a bye in the opening round.

There was also plenty of cup action on the home front as the GMCL T20 competition kicked off on Friday.

The bad weather that affected Saturday’s league action also had an impact but five matches featuring local sides were completed.

Premier Division side Greenmount Gladiators enjoyed the biggest winning margin, beating Division Two outfit Brooksbottom Bears by 129 runs in Pool Three.

Opener Danny Hornby top scored with 58, while overseas player Johnathan Sammut, pro Travis Townsend, captain Andy Kerr and Ryan Senior all made it into the forties as Greenmount posted an imposing total of 231-7.

Brooksbottom never got close to matching their total, but managed to stick around for their allotted 20 overs, finishing on 102-9. Moshin Iqbal top scored with a run-a-ball 26 as Hornby claimed figures of 3-15.

Walshaw Warriors kicked off their Pool Three campaign with a victory on run-rate at Totty Tigers. Kendrick Hatton hit 63 not out and Daniel Holland added 43 as the Division One leaders posted 202-7.

Rain brought Division Four Totty’s innings to a close after nine overs, by which time they had struggled to 38-6 and were well behind on run-rate.

In Pool Four, Unsworth Draggons claimed the scalp of Premier Division leaders Prestwich on run-rate.

They made it to 141-9 while Prestwich were left stranded on 125-8 when rain stopped play after 18 overs.

Elsewhere, Radcliffe Racers posted their first victory of the season with a closely-fought four-wicket victory at East Lancs Millers.

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Results and fixtures

Results

Friday, May 20

Archway GMCL20

Pool 3: Edenfield Eagles 187-9 Egerton Earthquakes 207-5. Egerton Earthquakes won by 20 runs.

Edgworth Fury 94-3 (after 12 overs) Woodbank Wildboyz DNB. Match abandoned.

Greenmount Gladiators 231-7 Brooksbottom Bears 102-9. Greenmount Gladiators won by 129 runs.

Totty Tigers 38-6 (from 9 overs) Walshaw Warriors 202-7. Walshaw Warriors won by run-rate.

Pool 4: Elton Rifles 135-6 Bury Storm DNB. Match abandoned.

Prestwich Heat 121-9 (from 18 overs) Unsworth Draggons 141-9. Unsworth Draggons won by run-rate.

Saturday

GMCL Premier Division: Egerton v Unsworth, Glossop v Greenmount, Prestwich v Bury. All matches abandoned without play.

Division One: Walshaw 152-2 (from 26 overs) Elton 93-5 (from 20.1 overs). Walshaw won by run-rate.

Woodbank v Dukinfield. Match abandoned without play.

Division Two: Droylsden 135-5 Edenfield 132-9. Droylsden won by 5 wkts (match reduced to 22 overs) Radcliffe v Denton. Match abandoned without play.

Stand v Flowery Field. Match abandoned without play.

Stretford 128-9 Brooksbottom 123-8. Stretford won by 1 wkt.

Division Four West: Bury 2nds 20-2 ELPM 67. Match abandoned.

Tottington St Johns v Elton Vale. Match abandoned without play.

Lancashire League: Ramsbottom v Colne. Match abandoned.

Sunday

Archway GMCL20

Pool 4: Radcliffe Racers 131-6 East Lancs Millers 130-5. Radcliffe Racers won by 4 wkts.

Lancashire Knockout

Bury 129-6 Southport Trinity 128-9. Bury won by 4 wkts.

Greenfield 206 Prestwich 231-9. Prestwich won by 25 runs.

Ramsbottom 208-8 Knight Riders 108. Ramsbottom won by 100 runs.

Fixtures

Tonight

Archway GMCL20

(Matches start at 6.15pm)

Pool 3: Edenfield Eagles v Greenmount Gladiators, Egerton Earthquakes v Totty Tigers, Walshaw Warriors v Edgworth Fury, Woodbank Wildboyz v Brooksbottom Bears.

Pool 4: Bury Storm v East Lancs Millers, Radcliffe Racers v Prestwich Heat, Unsworth Draggons v Elton Rifles.

Tomorrow

(Matches start at 1pm)

GMCL Premier Division: Bury v Unsworth, Clifton v Prestwich, Greenmount v Denton West.

Division One: Elton v Winton, Roe Green v Woodbank, Whalley Range v Walshaw.

Division Two: Brooksbottom v Wythenshawe, Edenfield v Thornham, South West Manchester v Stand, Westleigh v Radcliffe.

Division Four West: ELPM v Tottington St Johns, Elton Vale v Roe Green 2nds.

Sunday Derek Kay Per-Fit First XI Cup

First round: Clifton v Woodbank, Egerton v Greenmount, Prestwich v Irlam, Rochdale Catholic Club v Stand, Walshaw v Failsworth Macedonia, ELPM v Denton West, Worsley v Edenfield.

Lancashire League

Bacup v Ramsbottom.