EGERTON manager Dave Tattersall hopes professional Amal Athulathmudali can build on his record-breaking innings last weekend when he returns to Bolton League action and the double-header against Heaton and Horwich.

The Sri Lankan, who has been with the Blackburn Road outfit for three years, hit a record score of 275 for Salesbury against Brinscall in the Ribblesdale League on Sunday, where he was playing as deputy professional.

The knock was only 100 short of his total runs for Egerton this season in what Tattersall says has been a difficult campaign.

But the big innings is sure to have renewed confidence.

Tattersall told The Bolton News: “Amal was amazing last week and I am really pleased for him.

“If he had scored half of those on top of what he has for us, maybe things could have been different in terms of chasing the top spots.

“It was a fantastic score and then he went on to take five wickets as well.

“Hopefully that will give him confidence ahead of this weekend’s games and he can bring that form with him.

“It has been disappointing for him this season and I think he would be first to admit that.

“He has struggled with the bat and been unlucky with a few dismissals.

“But there is no doubting his quality.”

Egerton travel to Heaton today before hosting Horwich tomorrow in a match that pits seventh against sixth in the Bolton League.

Tattersall says it is a big match in the chase for the top four spots and a Lancashire Knockout place, though he concedes his team are unlikely to make it.

He added: “It has been disappointing for us this season and we have massively underachieved.

“On paper we have a good side but for whatever reason we have not quite gelled.

“The bowling has been okay but the batting has let us down really.

“We will regroup at the end of the year but before then we want to finish on a positive note.

“It is unlikely we will make that top four though Horwich, who we play tomorrow, still have a chance and it is a big game this weekend.

“Both teams go into it after good results; we beat Greenmount last week and they saw off Bradshaw.

“It is always a good game against Horwich and hopefully we can get a good result.”