REIGNING champions Walshaw were on the receiving end of a shock 33-run defeat at struggling Lostock on Saturday writes Peter Mensforth

Yet at the halfway mark had odds been offered on Lostock achieving that result there would have been few takers considering their modest total of 133-9.

And when Walshaw raced to 35-0 off their first six overs, all bets would definitely have been off.

Fortunately for Lostock, that is when Graham Beswick decided to take charge of matters.

With rain threatening the outcome, Walshaw changed their batting order with Brett Collins and Liam Riley opening to put quick runs on the board.

That paid off as the pair pushed the score along but when Beswick removed Collins, it started an avalanche of wickets.

Beswick went on take 6-54 and Phil Hall 3-6 off six overs, while Rob Faulkner, who batted number six, was left high and dry on 17 not out as Lostock achieved their win in 27 overs.

The weather robbed some games of a thrilling finish, notably Daisy Hill's encounter with Adlington, A & T's trip to Elton and Blackrod's meeting with Edgworth.

Daisy were chasing Adlington's 169-4 only to finish ten runs short with the last pair at the crease after five overs had been lost. Jamie Birch had put them on the way with 58 but Daisy lost wickets going for quick runs, Adlington pro Matthew Taylor profiting with 6-57 off 18 overs.

Earlier Daryll Hitchen hit 65 and Mike Rawlings 61 in the Adlington total. Over at Elton, Astley and Tyldesley were 20 short of the home side's total, again with the last pair at the wicket.

That would indicate that Elton probably had the better chance of winning that one but earlier Astley had looked as if they had the win in the bag as Pankaj Tripathi and pro Khan went after the bowling. The pro made 21 but it was only when Tripathi was run out on 40 attempting a quick run that fortunes changed, Chris Hall finishing with 4-37 and Mike Goddard 3-15.

In Elton's 139-7, newcomer David Kirupinski topped scored with an unbeaten 62, Peter Kay adding 21, Michael Barrass 18 not out, while Simon Nicklin finished with bowling figures of 4-32.

At Blackrod, Edgworth were on the ropes at 90-9 chasing a target of 120 when that game was halted.

Chris Sanderson was the main contributor for Blackrod hitting 52, Mike Davies hitting 29 for Edgworth.