ATHERTON CC were hoping to arrest their slide down the Bolton Association League against title contenders Spring View, and they duly managed it with an impressive six wicket victory against the defending champions on Saturday.

After containing their opponents to 172 for the loss of eight wickets the home side's victory innings was built on the back of a century opening partnership by their young starlets Karl Brown and Paul Keenan.

Winning the toss skipper Paul Brown inserted the visitors and openers Nigel Geary and Chris Rudd made slow progress against the accuracy of Mihir Diwakar and Ian Nuttall.

Prize wicket

After 10 overs just 26 were on the board for the loss of Rudd. Geary was next to go for 22, with the total on 40, and when the prize wicket of professional Arindam Sarkar fell to a brilliant catch by keeper Williamson off Diwakar for 16, the door was open. Diwakar struck again one over later when he caught and bowled skipper Paul Matthews for 15.

It was then left to Martin James with 44 and Jon Critchley 27 to lift the innings with a partnership of 62 but when both were dismissed in identical fashion, caught Williamson bowled Wakefield, there was little further esistance and the innings fell away to 172.

Diwakar bowled 23 overs to finish with 3 for 69 while Wakefield and Nuttall had 3 for 34 and 2 for 19 respectively from nine overs apiece.

The Atherton reply began in now familiar fashion with a solid start from Karl Brown and Paul Keenan. After taking three from the first ball Brown settled back and allowed his partner to do the scoring, his first 49 balls producing just five runs while Keenan scored 35 from his first 40. However, Brown then started to pick up the pace and took five fours from nine balls. The partnership was in full flow at 105 when the youngsters went for a second run that was never on and Brown was run out for 41.

Keenan and Phil West then struggled somewhat to add 12 for the next seven overs at which point Keenan was well caught one handedly by Sarkar, having made a chanceless 59 off 105 balls with 10 fours.

It was then left to West, in partnerships of 27 and 20 respectively, with Wakefield and Diwakar to see the Higham Park boys home off the last ball of the penultimate over, finishing undefeated on 32.

Best of the View bowling was Jack Green with 2 for 37 from 10 while David Gornall was economical with 1 for 27 from 8.

This weekend Atherton have one match, away to Lostock on Saturday.