An unbeaten century from Bury's Simon Belston denied Flixton the chance of clinching their first Bolton Association league title on home soil yesterday.

The Section A leaders will now look to secure the point they need in their final game of the season at Walshaw next Saturday, after third-placed Bury inflicted a five-wicket defeat on the champions elect.

Captain Belston led the way hitting 105 not out as the Radcliffe Road men totalled 193-5 in reply to the home side's 190-8 to put the champagne on ice at Lawrence Road.

Flixton had won the toss and decided to bat first and at 101-1 it was going well. But the loss of two wickets in an over put them on the back foot.

Opening batsman Steven Lang top-scored for the leaders with 57 and Adrian Holmes was also 35 not out.

The pick of the visiting bowlers came from Nekoli Parris who took 3-58 off 18 overs, while Twentyman also bowled tight.

Belston was dropped twice and survived a close lbw against him as he led his Bury troops to victory with Alton Beckford the best bowler for Flixton taking 3-63.

"We got five bonus points so we just need another point next week, said Flixton's Dave Connor.

"We would have liked to have finished it yesterday being at home but at least we go into next week just needing a point at Walshaw," he said.

"All we need to do is not get bowled out or take five wickets so we are not too nervous about it."

Bury are the only team that Flixton have not beaten this season and Belston was delighted his side continued that record.

"The result was no surprise to us," he said.

"We didn't go out there with the intentions of stopping them winning the league.

"We just wanted to stick to our game plan, work on what we had to do and the result was we took 13 points from them.

Belston was impressed with the performance of his team, particularly Australian overseas bowler Matt Twentyman, as his side have struggled to get over the line in games in recent weeks.

"They started like a house on fire. We thought we might have been chasing 300 the way it was going in the first 10 overs.

"To restrict them to 190 was a mammoth effort from us, we did well.

"We knew we would have to dig in with 190 on the board especially after our recent displays in the games that we've lost.

"We've struggled to get over the line when chasing 130, 140 and 170. Those are the games that win and lose leagues.

"Twentyman bowled well and brought us back into the game. We tied them down well and we got the danger men out early on."

Flixton only need a point to secure the title and will secure it against Walshaw next weekend as long as they don't get bowled out.

"Flixton deserve to be where they are because they are a top side. They've got some big batsman, and have one of the best batting line-ups in the Association," said Belston.

"Towards the end of their innings they had a game plan set and instead of pushing on five or six overs they looked to steady the wickets.

"They were about six or seven down but instead of chancing their arm, they became tough to get out. They picked up every point necessary to get them over the line.

"Our victory has given Atherton that little bit of hope now. They will come to us next week looking for the 13 points.

"But we will look after ourselves and go out to win it.

"I think second place might be out of our grasp now but we need to make sure we win to secure third place. To finish third will be a great season for the club," said Belston.

Second-placed Atherton kept up their slim hopes of retaining the championship with a five-wicket victory at home to Daisy Hill in a rain-delayed match.

The visitors' Shaun Brooks was the top scorer with 69 as his side posted 177 with Rashon Primus taking 5-41.

Dale Tyrer and Primus both hit half centuries as Atherton totalled 179-5 with Tyrer top scoring with 57, Primus adding 52 and Jamar Griffith 22.

A half century from David Murray gave Elton the bragging rights in the local derby against Walshaw in the other game in Section A.

The reduced 24-over game, which started at 3.40pm, was overshadowed by a nasty finger injury to Walshaw's opening bowler Gavin Nicholls.

However, Murray top-scored with 51 and Mike Hall also added 23 no out as Elton totalled 142-6.

Steve Holt was the visitors' best bowler taking 3-38.

Fifth-placed Walshaw could only muster 103-7 in reply with Mick Murphy 40 not out as the hosts won by 39 runs.

Elsewhere on the penultimate Saturday of the season, the batting partnership of Liam Watkinson and Simon Lord helped Edgworth edge past Lostock by 40 runs in a reduced overs game in Section B.

The duo both hit half centuries with Watkinson top-scoring with 65 and Lord notching 54 as the hosts totalled 175-5. Josh Fallows also chipped in with 20.

James McLoughlan and Robert Holgate took two wickets apiece for the visitors with McLoughlan taking 2-25 off two overs, and Holgate 2-28 off five overs.

In reply Nick Jeffs batted well for his 65, while the rest of the Lostock batting order went missing as the visitors totalled 135-9 off their 24 overs.

Watkinson (3-22) and Charlie Needham (3-44) were the best performing bowlers for the hosts.

Blackrod's Tushendra De Zoysa starred with the bat and ball as he took six wickets and top-scored with 45, but it was not enough as Darcy Lever won by 16 runs in a reduced 41-over game.

Gareth Hopkinson hit 28 and Steven Burns also added 27 as Lever posted 127 all out, with De Zoysa taking 6-33 and Chris Sanderson 3-33.

Despite De Zoysa's 45, Blackrod were skittled for just 107 in reply with Dominic Gavin (4-32) and Burns (4-37) the best bowlers for Lever.

It was a low-scoring game at Swinton Moorside who lost just three wickets to claim a seven-wicket win against Winton.

Chris Holt took 4-15 and David Flatley also took 3-9 as Winton were skittled for 93.

Callum Flynn (42 not out) and Chris Norvall (25no) led the home side to victory as they totalled 96-3 from their 33 overs.

In a rain-affected match in Section C, Astley & Tyldesley had to wait until almost 2.15pm before play could begin at Worsley.

Having notched up 57-0 after 16 overs, a batting collapse saw the home side crash to 73-3 off 21 overs with Matt McLlelan, Nicholas Goldsmith and Chris Taylor all falling cheaply, with the visitors' bowler James Cutt proving he really is a cut above by taking 5-62.

Danny McKeown's 49 and Himesh Silva's 23 helped steady the innings as Worsley totalled 166-8 from their reduced 32 overs.

Cutt hit an unbeaten 61 and Dave Harrison also notched up 46 in reply as A&T wrapped up a five-wicket victory.

Little Hulton won by seven wickets over Golborne.

Ciaran Vesey was the away side's top scorer on 31 as the visitors posted 128 all out from their 28 overs. Craig Cooke was Little Hulton's best bowler taking 5-37.

Shaukat Patel hit 36 not out as Little Hulton secured the victory with 129-3.

Tom Foster just missed out on a century for Adlington as the visitors recovered from 91-2 to cruise past Standish by 109 runs.

Foster hit an unbeaten 97 as he and partner Majid Majeed (69) put on 139 for the third wicket as the visitors hit 234-6 off 44 overs. Youngster Tom Shovelton also chipped in with 23.

SCORES:

Section A:

Daisy Hill 177 Atherton 179-5. Atherton won by 5 wkts.

Elton 142-6 Walshaw 103-7. Elton won by 39 runs.

Flixton 190-8 Bury 193-5. Bury won by 5 wkts.

 

Section B:

Darcy Lever 123 Blackrod 107. Darcy Lever won by 16 runs. 

Edgworth 175-5 Lostock 135-9. Edgworth won by 40 runs.

Winton 93 Swinton Moorside 96-3. Swinton Moorside won by 7 wkts.

 

Section C:

Golborne 128 Little Hulton 129-3. Little Hulton won by 7 wkts.

Adlington 234-6 Standish 125. Adlington won by 109 runs.

Worsley 166-8 Astley & Tyldesley 167-5. Astley & Tyldesley won by 5 wkts.