A top-notch team display saw Chorley surge into the last 16 of the National Knockout with a win at St Annes on Sunday.

A hugely entertaining game played in a great spirit saw the visitors restrict the Vernon Road men to 169 all out.

And Andy Holdsworth’s men paced their reply superbly to ease to a five wicket victory with more than three overs to spare to spark a roar of delight from the travelling supporters.

After working so hard Chorley deserved their win and the reward of a home tie in the last 16 against the winners of Sunday’s clash between Prestwich and Bowdon.

There should be a bumper crowd at Windsor Park for that showdown which is scheduled for July 13.

Every Chorley bowler kept things tight, David Fisher taking four wickets and the veteran Rex Purnell brought back memories of the golden mid-1990s era as he reeled off nine overs for just 26 runs.

It was only in the closing overs that a few lusty blows from the home side hauled them to 169.

But that score looked a decent one when Holdsworth chopped a Lukman Vahaluwala delivery onto his stumps and Ian Dickinson quickly followed.

Fisher and pro Mohammed Jamal then dug in to engineer a recovery, but when both fell in quick succession and Andy Winrow was run out, it was back in the melting pot.

The visitors needn’t have worried as Gaurav Dhar and Will Moulton steadied the ship before stepping up the pace and seeing their side safely home.