DAISY Hill created a six-point gap at the top of the Bolton Association table after surviving a scare to beat title-rivals Darcy Lever.

Bowling took centre stage at St James Street as Darcy struggled for runs and were bowled out for just 58 in the first innings.

Stephen Hodgkinson (4-28) and Neil Tong (3-27) bowled the majority of the 30 overs, with Adnan Raees (3-3) bowling four late on.

Nick Fawcett and Andrew Patel were the top scorers with 13.

The leaders almost slipped up in the second innings as Shaukat Patel (4-20) began to turn the screw with the ball.

However, every batsman managed to get off the mark to help Daisy squeeze over the line with only two wickets to spare.

Blackrod remain second but lost ground after their tie with Little Lever was abandoned without play.

The waterlogged pitch made the game unplayable, but the Vicarage Road outfit remain in the final promotion spot, one point ahead of Atherton who beat bottom side Golborne.

David Tantsis-Hall got back in the runs with a superb opening knock of 66 and skipper Calum Barlow added 31.

Shahid Mahboob (4-60) and Moeen Saiyed (4-33) impressed with the ball as Atherton were dismissed for 142.

Saiyed then scored 44 but Golborne failed to deal with the bowling of Muhammad Baig who took 7-35 as the hosts were all out for 82.

Tonge continue to go from strength to strength, beating Astley Bridge at home.

Syd De Silva top scored with 42 as the Sharples Park side posted 104. Tilaksha Malshan again shone, taking 5-33 while Alex Rodzoch took 3-39.

Craig Naylor hit an unbeaten 26 in reply as Tonge wrapped up the win with two wickets to spare, despite Irfan Puda’s (6-27) best efforts.

Tonge have an outside chance of making the top two as they sit 11 points behind Blackrod.

Little Hulton knocked Adlington out of the promotion race with a 14-run victory.

Skipper Suleman Muhammad opened with 18 for the Old Vicarage Ground outfit.

However, the bowling duo of Jack Shovelton (3-39) and Sajawal Khan (5-54) caused lots of problems as they were on 48-7 at one stage.

A late rally from seventh-wicket pairing Tajamul Khan (44) and Arshad Khan (31) saved the innings to set the visitors a target of 129. Mark Halliwell scored 43 in reply but Arshad Kahn provided early pressure with the ball taking 3-38 before Tajamul Khan swept up 5-20 late on to bowl Adlington all out for 115.

“This win has given all of us a huge boost,” said Little Hulton skipper Muhammad. “We saw that any player can change a game and Tajamul did that with the bat and ball.

“We have still got some top teams to play and if we can take points off them then we hope to finish in mid-table.”

Results

Daisy Hill 61-8, Darcy Lever 58. Daisy Hill won by two wkts.

Golborne 82, Atherton 142. Atherton won by 60 runs.

Little Hulton 129, Adlington 115. Little Hulton won by 14 runs.

Little Lever v Blackrod. Match abandoned.

Tonge 107-8, Astley Bridge 104. Tonge won by two wkts.