ATHERTON CC took time off from Redmayne Bentley Bolton Association duty to play their Lancashire Knockout first round tie at Rainford.

And what it game it proved to be for Atherton's Aussie pro Greg Dimery who smashed one individual record as he helped the team set the highest total in the club's history.

Winning the toss and batting first looked a questionable decision as Atherton lost two wickets in quick succession. Rob Clews was caught behind off the bowling of Steve Harrison with the total on one and at 26 Paul Walsh fell lbw to the same bowler for five.

But by now Dimery was at the wicket. After facing 12 dot balls, he was quickly in to his stride and on his way to the highest individual score ever recorded by an Atherton batsman - 150. At the same time he played a major part in Atherton reaching their highest ever recorded score, 312.

His first fifty came off 57 balls, his hundred off 109 and his 150 off 140. In all his massive innings took 156 minutes and contained 18 fours and two sixes. When he was finally out off the first ball of the final over, he had been at the wicket for all but seven balls of the entire innings and had not offered a chance.

He was helped along the way in partnerships of 77 with Chris Partington (29), 46 with Greg Greenough (20) and 125 with Paul Brown (51 no). The final total of 312 was for the loss of just six wickets.

Required to score at seven an over, Rainford set off with great purpose and after eight overs they had made 49 and up with the rate. But when David Charlson was brought into the attack he made the breakthrough.

Rainford's Aussie pro Andy Robinson kept the score moving but the only partnerships of any significance were of 44 and 67. When Robinson was out for 71 the remaining batsmen fell to an excellent spell from Paul Walsh who finished with 5-10 from 6.2 overs with six of the 10 being wide ball extras.

Charlson ended with 2-29 while the remaining wickets fell to Dimery (2-16) and Phil Wakefield (1-28) with Wakefield also taking three catches.

Atherton won the game by 122 runs and now entertain competition holders Netherfield in the second round.

This weekend Atherton face league games at Edgworth tomorrow and at home to Little Hulton on Sunday.