RADCLIFFE notched up their first win of the season in the GMCL20 last Friday.

The Racecourse men beat close neighbours East Lancs Paper Mill by four wickets with just four balls to spare in the opening match of the league's T20 competition.

They remain without a win in GMCL Division Two, however, after last weekend's scheduled league match was rained off.

Captain Martyn Coates has challenged his players to channel their performance in the short format into a first win of the league campaign at Westleigh tomorrow (Saturday).

"Everyone likes to win and there was a great atmosphere in the dressing room after the game," said Coates.

"But I told the players that it is important that we build on that now in the league."

The result could easily have gone either way after flurry of late Radcliffe wickets set up a nervous finish.

A second-wicket partnership of 73 between Gavin Greaves ( 46) and Ian Wade (36) hurried ELPM along to 81-1 with more than 10 overs remaining before the Radcliffe bowling attack put a stranglehold on the game to reduce them to 130-5.

Adam Sajewicz (2-27) and Usman Malik (2-21) shared four wickets between them for the visitors.

Radcliffe's innings followed a similar pattern as Coates opened with a quick-fire 45. Following his departure, they fell from 62-0 to 84-5 before former skipper Chris Berry added an important 35 from 25 balls to put them within reach of victory.

"It was a bit touch and go there for a while, but we managed to get over the line and see it through," added Coates.

"I felt it was the first time this season we put in a complete performance, as we had played well with the ball and bat before but never put both sides of the game together.

"We could have certainly done better, I was annoyed to get out as I felt it was important to stick around until the end.

"But we managed to see if through with the bat after our bowlers had worked hard to give us a platform for victory, and that was really pleasing."

Radcliffe face a tough ask to make it back-to-back wins in the GMCL20 as they host Premier Division leaders Prestwich tonight (Friday, 6.15pm start).

But Division Two's second-bottom side travel to eighth-placed Westleigh for what looks like a winnable games in the league on Saturday.

ELPM captain Paul Hewart, meanwhile, is eager to pick his side up ahead of a triple-header this weekend.

They travel to Bury tonight (Friday) in the GMCL20 then host Tottington St Johns in Division Four West tomorrow (Saturday) before welcoming Premier Division side Denton West in the first round of the First XI Cup on Sunday.

"Defeat to Radcliffe was disappointing because I felt we were probably about 20 runs short of where we should have been with the bat after getting off to a flyer," said Hewart.

"We then should have sent their captain back to the shed for 0 in the first over when he was dropped - it was an absolute dolly!

"But we have plenty of opportunity to bounce back this weekend and would urge local cricket fans to come down and support us on Sunday, especially, in the cup."